WATCH LIVE: Verdict on Clive Palmer v Mark McGowan defamation trial imminent

Judgement day has finally arrived in the two-year defamation battle between Clive Palmer and Mark McGowan.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee will hand down his long-awaited verdict in the highly contentious trial between the billionaire and the Premier on Tuesday morning.

Launched in September 2020, Mr Palmer‘s suit claimed the WA Premier had made defamatory comments against him, including that the mining magnate was “very selfish” and an “enemy of the State” for his opposition to WA’s hard border and his claim for about $30 billion in damages from the State Government over a disputed iron ore project.

Mr McGowan then filed a suit of his own, saying Mr Palmer had defamed him through implications of corruption, and that he had compared the Premier to disgraced former US president Richard Nixon.

“You go to WA (the Premier) can murder, shoot you, raid your house and he’s immune from the criminal law,” Mr Palmer said during a Radio National interview, a statement Mr McGowan said contributed to death threats that were made against him and his family months later.

On Tuesday, West Australian taxpayers will likely find out just how much the lengthy, high-profile case will cost the State.

The judge is expected to deliver his long-awaited verdict about 11.30am.

WATCH A LIVE STREAM OF THE VERDICT IN THE LINK ABOVE