Clive Palmer's Qld Nickel trial explained

WHY IS CLIVE PALMER IN COURT?

* The cash-strapped Queensland Nickel refinery collapsed in April 2016 with the loss of hundreds of jobs.

* Liquidators want to recover about $200 million owed to creditors.

* This includes almost $70 million in taxpayer funds used to cover unpaid entitlements to about 800 workers who lost jobs.

* Liquidators allege QN was trading insolvently long before administrators were appointed.

* They say Mr Palmer is responsible for the debts as shadow director making key decisions in the background.

* His nephew and QN director Clive Mensink is also being sued for breaching the Corporations Act.

* Mr Mensink has been out of the country since June 2016 and is now considered a fugitive after failing to appear in court on a number of occasions.

* Mr Palmer denies the claims, which he says are politically-motivated.