Queensland Nickel under Clive Palmer

CLIVE PALMER'S QUEENSLAND NICKEL SAGA

2009 - Clive Palmer buys the struggling Yabulu 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.

2013 - Palmer officially steps down as director of Qld Nickel upon entering parliament.

2016

January

15: 237 Queensland Nickel workers axed on the back of sliding nickel prices.

18: The company enters voluntary administration.

20: Australian Workers Union (AWU) asks Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) to look at whether Palmer acted illegally as a shadow director.

29: Palmer doesn't attend the first creditors meeting where workers are told company has $100m in debts.

February

11: ASIC draws up "shopping list" of reviews into the refinery, including claims Palmer acted as shadow director at Qld Nickel, potential conflicts of interest and corporate donations.

March

7: Palmer regains control of the refinery from administrators under Queensland Nickel Sales.

11: 550 refinery workers are sacked but there is confusion over whether they might be rehired by Qld Nickel Sales. They remain out of work.

14: Palmer writes to the Queensland government, outlining five requirements that must be met for the refinery to resume operations in July.

April

11: ABC's Four Corners alleges Palmer was making multimillion-dollar financial decisions, and had veto rights, after he stepped down as a director of Qld Nickel.

12: Administrators to make recommendations to creditors on what should happen to the company. AWU expects liquidation.

22: Creditors scheduled to meet in Townsville to vote on administrator's recommendations.