Lazarus upset at Qld Nickel $6m donations

Former Palmer United Party senator Glenn Lazarus says he felt "like s***" when he learnt Clive Palmer's besieged Queensland Nickel forked out millions of dollars to the party.

Financial disclosure returns revealed on Monday that Queensland Nickel - which shed 237 workers before going into voluntary administration - paid $6 million in donations to PUP in 2014/15.

Senator Lazarus, a former rugby league player who has since defected from the party, told ABC TV on Monday he was asked to run for PUP and didn't know anything about campaigning or how much it cost.