Blackwood suing Nathan Tinkler for insolvent trading

Embattled mining magnate Nathan Tinkler is likely to be sued by the liquidator of one of his private companies for allegedly insolvent trading. This could leave him nearly $30 million out of pocket if successfully prosecuted, according to the Australian Financial Review.

Robyn Duggan, a liquidator from Ferrier Hodgson and the liquidator of Mulsanne, said she intended to bring insolvent trading claims against the directors of the company.

These are Tinkler, Matthew Keen and Troy Palmer.

The revelations emerged in court documents filed with the NSW Supreme Court as part of an application to the court to allow major creditor Blackwood to fund the liquidator.

Macdonald gave ‘reptilian smile’ over mine, inquiry hears

A corruption inquiry has heard that former NSW Labor mining minister Ian Macdonald gave a “reptilian smile” when a political colleague told him it would be hard to get approval for a Hunter Valley mine pitched by former union leader John Maitland, according to the Australian Financial Review.

Former Labor MP Kerry Hickey told the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption on Thursday he was “buttonholed” by a Macdonald staffer in 2008 and asked to write a letter supporting Maitland’s plan for a so-called training mine at Doyles Creek near Newcastle.

Hickey, who preceded Macdonald as mining minister, said he told Macdonald that it would be hard to win the support of his department.

Hiring demand fires 'buy local' row

Mining giants are aghast after it emerged they would be directed to hire employees to qualify for tariff concessions under the government's controversial Buy Australian Made plan for resources and infrastructure projects, according to The Australian.

The office of Industry Minister Greg Combet said yesterday that Australian industry opportunity officers who must be embedded in certain private projects would be company employees - not public servants as miners had expected.