Queensland Nickel donated more than $20 million to the Palmer United Party (PUP) over the last two years.
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Fairfax reports Mr Palmer donated $288,516 to the Palmer United Party on New Years Eve 2015, just weeks before hundreds of workers would go from the site.
Palmer, who purchased the refinery from BHP Billiton in 2009, said last month the business was seeking “minimal” government assistance in the form of a guarantor for a A$35 million ($25 million) bank loan to avert closure.
Senator Nick Xenophon said the workers could be victims of Mr Palmer’s political ambitions.
Amid concerns about flow-on effects on the region’s economy, the Queensland government announced on Sunday it was bringing forward the start dates for $61m of job-creating road projects in Townsville and Cairns. One Facebook user said, “Clive Palmer doesn’t give a damn about his workers”.
Overnight, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said he supported the Labor Government’s decision to decline financial support to the company.
He said the amount included a cash payment “as well as monetary value for goods and services in kind”.
The ABC earlier reported Mr Palmer as claiming his donations had ended the carbon tax, saving his refinery $24 million a year. It said that lack of financial support from the government and lowering commodity prices were the main cause behind the decision.
QNI, which is owned by mining magnate and politician Clive Palmer, detailed the cuts in a statement, but did not make any reference to production cuts.
“The government has done everything it possibly can with Queensland Nickel”, the premier said.
To add insult to injury, Queensland Nickel’s managing director has praised Clive Palmer for investing his own money into the refinery before Christmas.
Senator Xenophon, unveiling Team Xenophon candidates for the upcoming federal election, also took a swipe at Queensland Employment Minister Grace Grace over her comments that there was not much government could change “structurally” to improve youth unemployment levels.
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She said the government would accelerate public works throughout the state, with the priority in northern Queensland.
