General News
17 September, 2024
Recipients of $20m Mount Isa fund gagged by government
The devil is in the (lack of) detail when it comes to the pre-election cash splash.
Projects for the $20 million Mount Isa transition fund have finally been announced, but the state government is so-far reluctant to provide all of the details to the public.
After being lost in the bureaucratic ether for weeks past the expected release date, a statement announcing the list of 10 successful project proponents, worth $14.7 million, in addition to $5.3 million for Mount Isa City Council initiatives was sent to the inboxes of local journalists late last week.
The media release was filled with state government ministers making the usual self-congratulatory commentary regarding their bold decision to release taxpayer money during an election season.
The statement confirmed the projects would provide economic stimulus to Mount Isa amid the impending closure of Glencore’s copper mine and almost 483 full-time-equivalent jobs would be supported.
“The projects we’re supporting through the Mount Isa Transition Fund will strengthen small business, liveability and help to build a more resilient community,” the statement reads.
The media release provided a list of successful proponents – but when contacted for further information, North West Weekly was told they were unable to make any comment about their specific projects because the Department of State Development had only given conditional approval and permission had to be sought.
The office for the Minister for State Development Grace Grace was then contacted for further details about the projects, who promptly referred North West Weekly to the department.
The Department of State Development declined to provide details of the projects nor allow Mount Isa proponents to speak publicly about their ideas.
Instead, North West Weekly was told in a statement that information regarding the projects would be updated on a government website. No date was provided for when the update would take place.
“The Queensland Government is finalising arrangements and funding agreements with the proponents,” the spokeswoman said.
Despite this, at least one project proponent defied the department and released a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange.
Centrex Ltd told the ASX that it had received “conditional approval” for $2 million funding.
However, the statement was careful to only include a vague detail that the money would assist in the ongoing state 1.5 expansion at Ardmore Rock Phosphate Mine.
So what can we actually report?
The following organisations have received an unknown amount of funding for various upgrades, restoration and expansion projects – Agriflex, NW Commercial Laundry, Calibre Engineering, PCYC, Mount Isa Day Nursery and Kindergarten, Mount Isa Rugby League, North West Hospital and Health Service, Mount Isa Aboriginal Community Controlled Health, North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services and Mount Isa Campdraft Association.
North West Weekly looks forward to providing details of these initiatives for our city once the Brisbane-based department officials allow the proponents to speak.
Traeger MP Robbie Katter said he wasn’t surprised by the lack of openness and transparency displayed by the government.
“What they are doing is not right – but no government I have ever worked with has been immune to this type of behaviour. There should be an open line of communication about these kinds of projects,” he said.