ALP out to mend fences in mines

Labor MPs are visiting resources projects in Queensland in an attempt to turn around the party’s relations with blue-collared workers.

Labor MPs Mike Freelander, Meryl Swanson, Milton Dick, Kimberley Kitching during their mine tour.

Labor MPs are visiting resources projects in central Queensland in an attempt to turn around the party’s relations with blue-collar workers in the state.

Kimberley Kitching, Milton Dick, Meryl Swanson and Mike Freelander on Tuesday began the tour sponsored by the Minerals Council of Australia.

The group will visit a coalmine run by BHP in the Bowen Basin, and Glencore’s copper and zinc mines in Mount Isa.

They will also visit manufacturing plants and aluminium refineries in Gladstone and network with industry leaders in Mackay.

Ms Swanson, who represents the coal seat of Paterson in the NSW Hunter Valley, said: “We have established a regional jobs taskforce, of which I am the chair, to focus on employment in our regions of which mining is an important part.”

Senator Kitching said Labor could not win an election “without the trust of working Australians”.

“This industry and the people who work in it create the wealth that keeps Australia a prosperous country,” Senator Kitching said

“Additional industries can be created in these towns that help with our technological advancement. The next generation in these mining communities should be sure that additional jobs can be created. Today we saw Glencore’s copper mine at Mount Isa.

“In the next 25 years we’ll use the same amount of copper that we have in the last 5000. This sector is vital to our quality of life and to the Australian economy.”

Mr Dick, a Queensland Right MP, said he was “unashamedly a supporter of the resources sector”.

“The Queensland economy ­relies heavily on the mining industry. Labor needs to redouble our efforts in mining communities,” Mr Dick said.

“If we don’t back in our mining communities it will be very difficult for the Labor Party to win seats in Queensland.”

Opposition resources spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said the tour was a “great thing”. “The more we can get Labor members and senators to the regions to see the benefits of the mining industry, the better, particularly city-based MPs and senators,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“I believe we can win (central and north Queensland) seats but we can only win if we demonstrate we have policies which build a modern and cleaner economy while not forsaking jobs in the mining industry.”