Clive Palmer has reprimanded a group of journalists after they attempted to ask questions about a Supreme Court case in Queensland into his dealings with his Chinese business partners.
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In an outburst at the National Press Club on Monday, Mr Palmer spoke over a News Corporation journalist after facing a barrage of questions about the trial, which began in Brisbane last week.
In the civil case, Chinese-owned Citic Pacific is accusing Mr Palmer of using $12 million of its money for his 2013 election campaign.
Mr Palmer repeatedly refused to respond to questions on the subject on Monday at the National Press Club, where he was giving an address.
"I can't take any questions on that, because it's before the courts," he said before launching into an attack on The Courier Mail's Steven Scott.
"Why don't you just ask a question about the topic. Have some guts to Rupert [Murdoch], don't do what he tells you from New York. Stand up and be a journalist," Mr Palmer said.
Scott fired back and said Mr Palmer was filibustering and tried again to ask a question about the allegations regarding the use of the $12 million.
"It's completely untrue, what you're saying," Mr Palmer responded.
"All those papers are controlled by Rupert Murdoch. Your paper's owned by his personal family. You get directions from the editor. Rupert Murdoch gets on Skype in New York.
"Why don't you try to be an independent journalist and think for a while?"
Mr Palmer continually repeated that what Scott was saying was untrue as the reporter attempted to finish his question.
Other media at the event asked Mr Palmer why he was attacking journalists for doing their job.
During the question and answer session, Mr Palmer also reprimanded journalists from The Australian and The West Australian who tried to ask similar questions.
He accused The Australian of writing only "half the story".
Mr Palmer's outburst comes less than a fortnight after walking out on a Lateline interview, after host Emma Alberici's persistent questioning over his Chinese business deals.
He hung up on ABC Melbourne's Jon Faine in August last year, and walked out of an interview with Sarah Ferguson on 7.30 in July.
Earlier in his speech, Mr Palmer lauded the journalism profession, saying "no-one has a stronger duty to protect that right to know than the members of the media".
"There is no profession more important, no duty more sacred than being a member of the media, protecting the public's right to know and right to knowledge so that people can exercise their democratic franchise in the best interests of the country and the nation," he said.
"It doesn't matter whether it's good news or bad news. The news is what makes our country tick and no-one has a stronger duty to protect that right to know than the members of the media, so I'm very honoured to be here today."
