Resources Minister Dale Last meets with Glencore over MIM
New Resources Minister Dale Last recently met with Glencore bosses for high-level discussions which could have huge ramifications for the future of Mount Isa’s 1200 copper workers.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
New Resources Minister Dale Last has planted his flag in Townsville, saying he intends to maintain a presence in the city via an office in Flinders street, with meetings already taking place to tackle the biggest issue in the state’s northwest; the collapse of Glencore’s Mount Isa mining operations.
Mr Last said he had met with Glencore’s international chief executive Gary Nagle with Premier David Crisafulli for “very frank discussions” in Brisbane last Wednesday for about half an hour over the company’s decision to close down its copper operations and concentrator in Mount Isa from the middle of next year.
This would affect 1200 jobs; the bulk of which are locally based, but industry representatives believe it would have consequences along the economic pipeline to Townsville.
On the Premier’s last visit to Townsville, he criticised the mining giant for holding the North Queensland mining city “to mercy” by playing at commodities, and indicated he could back legislation that would allow other miners to have a crack at producing any remaining ore.
But on Thursday, Mr Last conceded the underground copper mines were coming to an end, but said that there could be other prospects in the area.
Mr Last said, “We have a solution going forward”, and that the government could show support through its approvals processes.
“In the coming weeks, we’ll be in a position to go to that community to reassure them that there is a future in Mount Isa, that they don’t have to leave that community, and Glencore are certainly committed to working with government to ensure that happens,” Mr Last said.
“And the premier made it very clear that we want to see that community continue to thrive, and we believe very firmly, as does Glencore, that there is a future for copper mining in that area out there, and we’re certainly working towards a plan to bring that to life.”
Shortly before speaking to the media, Mr Last met with regional industry representatives, including Regional Development Australia and the advocacy group Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone (MITEZ).
MITEZ’s chief executive, Maria James, said she was pleased with the formal meeting with Mr Last and Assistant Minister Janelle Poole, believing they were well aware of the region’s issues.
“And I say that every time I speak, if Mount Isa sneezes, Townsville catches a cold; that is exactly how it works,” Ms James said.
“That whole thing around Glencore, the interrelationship with IPL (Incitec Pivot Limited), and Sun Metals, new copper getting up off the ground, no certainty around the smelter, they need to get those things right.”
Ms James said questions needed to be asked about the financial difficulties of several junior miners in the region, such as True North Copper, to determine what exactly was hindering economic progress.
A Glencore spokesman confirmed the high-level meeting between the CEO and the Queensland Government had taken place.
“The new government said that Queensland is open for business,” the spokesman said.
Recently, Mount Isa Mines had held a job fair to support its affected employees, to link them with other job opportunities in the region.
Glencore’s Zinc Assets Australia chief operating officer Sam Strohmayr said information sessions also included the support needed for financial planning and addressing career changes.
“Whenever possible, we want to facilitate and promote local job opportunities to keep our impacted people living and working in the Mount Isa area,” he said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Resources Minister Dale Last meets with Glencore over MIM
Bold ideas to boost Townsville tourism sector
Outlining areas of growth that could benefit Townsville’s tourism , one panellist at the Future Townsville event put forward a bold statement that the city needs “ten more hotels now”.
Townsville’s liveability grade shows room for improvement
Giving Townsville the grade of “B, B+ at best”, in terms of liveability compared to other regional cities, the keynote speaker at the Future Townsville event said the city needs to make better decisions now.