Burdekin MP Dale Last calls for meeting with QCoal, Glencore, state government and Isaac mayor

As a battle of wills and words rages over the future of Glenden, one North Queensland MP has called for coal giants, government heads and local leaders to sit down in one room and not leave until a solution is found.

Dale Last with members of the Glenden community on a visit to the town in May, 2024.

Will Glenden ever be truly saved? Not without compromise from all the parties involved says Burdekin’s MP Dale Last.

As accusations fly about who did what and when Mr Last has met with locals in Glenden who believe time is fast running out when it comes to securing the town’s future.

Mr Last has called on resources Minister Scott Stewart to convene an urgent meeting of stakeholders, emphasising the need for all parties to focus on the people who call Glenden home.

“I spoke with residents of Glenden on Friday and their message is clear,” Mr Last said.

“By the time the government’s so-called solution has any effect it will be too late for Glenden.

Aerial view of Glenden, Queensland, a small mining town that was at risk of being demolished.

“The minister needs to urgently convene a meeting that includes Mayor Vea Vea, myself and senior representatives from both Glencore and QCoal. My suggestion is that we don’t leave the room until a solution is agreed to.”

Mr Last said Ms Vea Vea’s commitment to work with QCoal set the example that “we need to put the past behind us and work together”.

He also said the priority must be people, not politics.

Cartoonist Harry Bruce's take on the ongoing saga of what will become of Glenden.

“There has never been consensus on the way forward despite a raft of groups focussed on Glenden’s future,” Mr Last said.

“Instead of trying to blame someone or make it someone’s problem to fix, let’s do the right thing and find a solution that will actually work because the demise of Glenden gets closer with every day we continue on the current path.

“I’ve been prepared to work in a bipartisan manner since 2017 and the evidence of that is meetings with Labor Ministers, including the current Treasurer and requests to meet with others including the current Premier.

“All the locals I spoke to want is for everyone to put their egos aside and work cooperatively. Let’s just sit down like community leaders and work on behalf of the people instead of hurling insults and accusations.”

The Daily Mercury asked Mr Last if in the interests of bipartisanship, he would invite Anne Baker, the former Isaac mayor and now-Labor candidate for Burdekin running against him, on the chance she did win in October.

“The meeting I have called for would be chaired by Scott Stewart, a senior minister in the Labor government,” he said.

“If Minister Stewart is unable to make a commitment on behalf of the Labor government, it is clear Labor has given up on the people of Glenden.”

Originally published as Burdekin MP Dale Last calls for meeting with QCoal, Glencore, state government and Isaac mayor