Qld Nickel's demise under Clive Palmer

TIMELINE OF QUEENSLAND NICKEL'S WOES

2009 - Clive Palmer buys the struggling Yabalu nickel refinery in Townsville from BHP Billiton

2011 - Nickel prices begin a five-year downward spiral, slumping to a 15-year low at the end of 2015

2015 - Queensland government refuses to go guarantor for a $35 million loan to keep Queensland Nickel in business; blames the company's refusal to open its books for proper scrutiny

2016

- Jan 15: 237 Queensland Nickel workers axed

- Jan 18: Company enters voluntary administration

- Jan 29: Mr Palmer opts not to attend the first creditors meeting where workers are fighting for entitlements