Four weeks after the billionaire said he would sue the Premier over defamation claims, McGowan has hit back.

The WA Premier is launching a defamation case against mining magnate Clive Palmer according to documents attained by the West Australian.

Mark McGowan has lodged a counterclaim in the Federal Court, alleging Mr Palmer “badly injured” his reputation in his commentary between August 12 and September 1 – the date Mr Palmer launched his own defamation case.

The seven instances of defamation being pursued in the counterclaim include one spat where Mr Palmer likened Mr McGowan to former US President Richard Nixon, by allegedly acting like he was “immune from the criminal law”.

“Each publication was made with the intention of causing political harm to (Mr McGowan) and to cause him to make governmental decisions in relation to the closure of borders and his dispute with the WA Government that were favourable to (Mr Palmer),” the counterclaim published in the West read.

But beyond punishing him for past commentary, Mr McGowan’s legal team will look to “permanently restrain” Mr Palmer from similar actions in the future through an injunction order.

Mr Palmer has in recent weeks turned his attention on the Queensland Premier for her border stance, taking out full page advertisements in daily paper the Courier Mail slamming the State Government for being “heartless” in their restrictions.

His battle against WA’s hard border is likely to go on through the rest of 2020, with the High Court due to hear the case in November.

The Federal Court determination over the matter found the WA border was the most effective measure against preventing COVID-19 from spreading into the State. 

Further Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.

Feature image: AAP Image/Jono Searle