General News
17 September, 2024
Glencore's future up in the air as major parties back Katter's idea
The LNP have provided support for the KAP plan, which has also been backed by Premier Steven Miles.
The LNP has indicated it would support government intervention to force underground operations to continue at Mount Isa Mines in a move that has both major parties now echoing Robbie Katter’s criticisms of the planned copper mine closures next year.
Responding to questions posed by North West Weekly, opposition spokesperson for natural resources Dale Last said an LNP government would be willing to use legislative powers to force Mount Isa Copper Operations (MICO) to remain open and keep workers employed.
“It’s unacceptable a resource such as this is mothballed and 1200 jobs are left in limbo,” Mr Last said.
“If elected, the LNP will utilise whatever powers are necessary to open the mine and restore these jobs.”
The LNP statement comes after Premier Steven Miles last week delivered a sharp rebuke of Glencore’s closure plans.
Mr Miles used the final sitting of question time before the election to state that he believed his government should assist to identify a “viable” company willing to take over the entire Mount Isa Mines lease, which would include a mandatory transfer of ownership via legislation if required.
“Any government that I lead will do everything it can to assist in identifying an alternative owner,” Mr Miles told parliament in response to a question from Mr Katter.
“If there is a viable owner willing to step up and run the mine, we will do all that we can do to facilitate the transfer of ownership including the introduction and passage of legislation.”
However, a Glencore spokesperson said the “political posturing” from the Premier would “further erode business confidence in Queensland”.
“The Premier’s comments in parliament ... are contrary to the findings of his own government’s parliamentary inquiry which recommended that the Katter bill not be passed,” the spokesperson said.
“The Katter private member bill is unnecessary, unworkable, increases sovereign risk and has an entirely unrealistic approach to the reality of complex mining operations.”
The announcement from the major parties has been welcomed by Mr Katter, who was left reeling after his proposed amendments to the Mount Isa Mines Act, which would have seen the underground copper lease opened to third party tenders, were rejected by a state parliamentary committee earlier this month.
The joint Labor-LNP committee agreed with Glencore that dividing the current lease between two or more companies would create “unworkable” logistical issues and any government intervention into the operational decisions of the mining giant would likely result in legal challenges.
Mr Katter said he arrived at state parliament last week angered by the committee’s recommendations and sought separate meetings with Mr Miles and David Crisafulli to discuss the impact of the underground closures on the Mount Isa economy.
He said the criticisms of the Glencore closures by the major parties was evidence of his lobbying capabilities among decision-makers in state parliament.
“Once I made the Premier aware of what the consequences would be from nil action (on the closures), he was very swift to move and he offered some very strong wording in parliament,” Mr Katter said.
“My meetings with the LNP have been very positive and I know that if they form government, they are very keen to see the continuation of mining.
“I think this sits us in a very good position as a region going into the election campaign.
“When policy is strongly in favour of the people versus a large multi-national overseas-based mining company, I think the politics works pretty well for a favourable outcome for Mount Isa.”