Billionaire Clive Palmer has been ordered to pay Mark McGowan’s legal costs from the moment he ignored an offer from the West Australian premier for both men to walk away from the litigation in December.

The decision, made by Federal Court Justice Michael Lee on Thursday, means the mining magnate will bear the majority of the costs for the defamation trial proceedings, including McGowan’s high-profile lawyer, Bret Walker SC.

After the defamation battle ended in a draw on August 2, Lee found both parties should bear their own costs up until the offer was made.

Criminal barrister Tom Percy QC told 6PR Mornings host Liam Bartlett the WA Premier’s lawyer in the defamation case cost upwards of $20,000 a day,

LISTEN to Tom Percy’s chat with Liam about the case 👇