The wealthy businessman achieved a victory today, managing to have his case referred to the Supreme Court due to allegations that he and his family have been adversely affected by delays in the proceedings.

At 71, Palmer appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court requesting a human rights referral to the Supreme Court concerning his Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) issues.

After magistrate Cameron McKenzie ruled in his favour on human rights grounds, a “very grateful” Palmer spoke to media outside.

“They have to take the Human Rights Act seriously,” he said.

“Of course, I’m always under persecution from somebody at some time because of my views and my controversy.

“But it’s important if you can make precedence for other people so they get the benefit of it.”

Palmer was charged by the independent financial regulator in 2018 along with Palmer Leisure Coolum.

The allegations involve Palmer and his business purportedly violating the law when he tried to acquire timeshare investors at his Sunshine Coast resort but failed to finalize the offer within the specified two-month timeframe.

The magnate was again charged by ASIC in 2020 following an investigation.

He faced accusations of improperly channeling over $12.1 million through his company Mineralogy to Media Circus and Cosmo Developments, ultimately using the funds for the 2013 federal election campaign of the Palmer United Party.

Palmer contended that his human rights may have been compromised in his Queensland fraud case as prosecutors reportedly withheld disclosing documents against him for several years.

McKenzie ruled in favour of Palmer on Friday, saying both sets of proceedings would be referred to the Supreme Court.

But he had some sympathy for the prosecution after the delays in progressing the matter, saying “it does rest heavily with Mr Palmer”.

“The prosecution has been taken on a number of side steps and tangents with these proceedings,” he said.

“Mr Palmer has unsuccessfully taken issue with nearly every decision made in this court, and indeed, numerous occasions in other courts.

“Those other proceedings would most likely have taken prosecution’s focus away from their disclosure obligations in this court.”

In 2018, Palmer Leisure Coolum was charged with proposing a bid and then failing to make an offer within two months, and Palmer was charged with aiding and abetting the company to commit an offence.

In 2020, he was charged with two counts of dishonestly using his position as a director and another two counts of fraud by dishonestly gaining a benefit or advantage.

Palmer today said the charges had “no substance”.

“Justice always wins and we’ve got to stick with the system we’ve got – but make sure that it works,” he said.