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AAP
AAP
National
Cheryl Goodenough

Palmer's kids donate land to Qld family

Clive Palmer's children and niece have donated land for Kelly Wilkinson's kids to have a new home. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO) (AAP)

Land has been donated at the request of Clive Palmer's children to the family of Gold Coast mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson who died allegedly at the hands of her ex-partner.

Brian Earl Johnston has been charged with murdering the 27-year-old whose burnt body was found in the backyard of her home in April 2021.

In response to media coverage about fundraising to help build a new home for Ms Wilkinson's children and their carers, two of Mr Palmer's daughters, aged 14 and eight, asked to donate vacant land at Hope Island, according to court documents.

The property had been bought for the two girls and their cousin through a trust set up by Mr Palmer and his wife Anna.

Mr Palmer said he and his wife regarded the request as "genuine, heartfelt and admirable".

"We were proud that at such an early age they were eager to help the Kelly Wilkinson children," he said in an affidavit to the Brisbane Supreme Court.

Family members, including Mrs Palmer's brother, agreed it was a good thing for the children "at such an early age to care for others less fortunate than themselves".

"We also agreed that the gift of the land was more significant and meaningful for Mary, Lucy and my niece personally than a donation by myself or one of my companies and we collectively agreed as a family that we should action this as soon as possible," he said.

When Mr Palmer first instructed lawyers he stipulated the donation would be anonymous.

But details are contained in legal documents for the donation to be ratified by a court "rather than risk any uncertainty or controversy concerning the validity of the gift".

The businessman was self-represented as a legal guardian when the matter was brought to the Brisbane Supreme Court, but he did not make any submissions.

The request to court was not opposed by Mr Palmer and other legal guardians of the trust beneficiaries.

Mr Palmer said he and his family "have been blessed with good fortune and resources", and his daughters have been gifted substantial assets including land and houses and their life is secure.

Ms Wilkinson's children are being cared for by her sister and brother-in-law, who have five children of their own.

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