Tougher pollution laws put forward in wake of Palmer Queensland Nickel saga

Environment minister says retrospective proposals prompted by 'unacceptable prospect' of public paying to clean up after Yabulu nickel refinery

Clive Palmer could be forced to shoulder the $100m cost of cleaning up his Queensland Nickel operation under proposed state laws that would expand the chain of corporate responsibility for pollution.

The Palaszczuk government has introduced a bill that would let environmental authorities pursue parent companies, executives or ultimate owners for the cost of rehabilitating industrial sites after the operator collapsed.