The Queensland Mines minister says no political party has fought harder against the carbon tax than the LNP - but he still thinks Clive Palmer should pay his bill.
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Andrew Cripps said Tuesday regardless of his and his party's view on the tax, it was the "law of the land" and Mr Palmer had no choice but to pay his bill.
"There is an obligation on Mr Palmer to meet the tax burden that is owing," he said.
"I acknowledge it is not a good tax and it is a tax the LNP would prefer not to be placed on companies in Australia.
"But while it is the law of the land, it is his obligation to meet that tax payment."
Mr Palmer, in response to media reports, tweeted early Tuesday morning that he had paid the outstanding $6.8 million carbon tax bill for the Yabulu nickel refinery on Monday.
And on Tuesday afternoon his office issued a statement reiterating that the company had paid the debt.
"Queensland Nickel received notice from the Clean Energy Regulator on 6 March 2014 inviting the company to reduce its carbon tax debt as at 31 December 2013 to zero by Saturday, 5 April 2014," it said.
"In response to the invitation by the Clean Energy Regulator, on Tuesday, 1 April 2014 Queensland Nickel paid the amount of $6,815,046.22 to the Clean Energy Regulator thereby reducing the company’s carbon tax liability as at 31 December 2013 to zero."
But the issue is unlikely to disappear, with the Clean Energy Regulator reporting Mr Palmer's Queensland Nickel owes the government $8.44 million in 2012-13 carbon tax liabilities.
Not only that, the nickel refinery owes a further $1 million in late penalties accrued by March 27, leaving a total debt of about $9.5 million so far, the regulator said.
Mr Cripps said he wanted the refinery, which was also dealing with a tailings dam issue, to survive.
"I am an extremely strong supporter of the nickel refinery in Townsville. It is located in my electorate and it provides employment for many hundreds of people in that city," he said.
"It is an important economic asset for the region. The Yubulu nickel refinery has been in operation for decades and it is important for the economy of Townsville that it is responsibly managed.
"... [Mr Palmer] certainly appears to have the money. He has run a lot of colourful ads on television, he has financed national and state election campaigns and Mr Palmer is pursuing colourful business ventures, like building a replica of the Titanic.
"Yet apparently, he doesn't have the financial means to meet his tax obligations to the Commonwealth."
- with Jonathan Swan
