Prime Minister visits mining city about to face severe job losses

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited a mining city which is set to lose seven per cent of its workforce in six months. But did he offer anything to help?

An appeal has been made to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to back Mount Isa as it confronts the looming challenge of keeping 1200 mine workers in the city in the wake of its copper mine closures in six months – which directly impacts seven per cent of its workforce.

Mr Albanese did not announce any form of relief on top of the state government’s $50m in his visit to the North West city.

But he told city councillors in a private 20 minute meeting alongside regional development minister Catherine King their funding applications would be given the federal government’s attention, as he advised them on what they would be eligible for.

During a media conference at the Mount Isa lookout, as part of his North Australia tour between his visits to Cairns and the Northern Territory, the Prime Minister conceded the impact Glencore’s commercial decision to close its three copper mines at Mount Isa Mines by the middle of this year would have.

He met with local Labor Party representatives including former Queensland parliamentary speaker Tony McGrady, as well as local councillors, and said there had been “strong representations” made by Federal MP Bob Katter about the issue.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre) with Solomon MP Luke Gosling (left) and Minister Catherine King (right) at the Mount Isa lookout on Wednesday. Picture: Prime Minister’s Office

Mount Isa City Council’s chief executive Tim Rose said the Prime Minister was “very receptive” in their sit-down meeting as the council took him through their economic development plans which included a critical minerals research centre, pyrite processing, as well as blimp development and generating green energy from mine shafts.

“It’s all a timing problem, but if we get all of those up and running, we think we can actually replace the jobs that we’re losing,” he said.

“There’s a huge number of opportunities, but you know, we just need to progress them pretty quickly.”

Mount Isa City Council’s chief executive Tim Rose said the Prime Minister was “very receptive” as it pitched their economic plan. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm

Previously he said that two indirect jobs would be impacted for each of the 1200 workers through the services that they needed.

Mr Rose said the council was starting to hear of families preparing to leave the city when jobs were lost, which was “very concerning to us.”

“We are fearful that we’re obviously going to lose population, but we’re working as hard as we possibly can to retain them.

Former Queensland Labor Resources Minister Tony McGrady with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Mount Isa Irish Club. Picture: Prime Minister’s Office

“But yeah, it’s going to be, I think, a difficult sort of seven or eight months going forward, that’s for sure.”

Mr McGrady said the community spirit had changed a lot since he moved from Liverpool to work at the mines 60 years ago, but it also had become more “sophisticated”.

“I’ve been in the game a long, long time and I’ve heard things being quoted, and the doomsday merchants will always be out there making claims about what’s going to happen, and yet this place is still the shining light in the mining industry,” Mr McGrady said.

A private meeting in the Mount Isa City Council chamber, between councillor John Tully, Resources Minister Catherine King, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Deputy Mayor Kim Coghlan, and CEO Tim Rose. Picture: Prime Minister’s Office

“Whilst you’ve got to be concerned about any threats of job losses, you’ve got to make sure that you do everything in your power to ensure that the jobs continue.

“And maybe, maybe we should look at Fly In, Fly Out as an issue.”

Mount Isa businessman and former councillor Graeme Saunders said there were signs people were ready to leave in the wake of MIM job losses.

Looking down Isa Street overlooking Mount Isa Mines, where 1200 workers are expected to be laid off from the closure of three copper mines. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm

He said the city had already shrunk in population in recent years, but the 100 year old mining city had endured the economic booms and busts that came attached to demand in resources.

“I still believe in the back of my mind, I’m too old to wait, but if I was younger I’d sit and wait,” Mr Saunders said.

“So younger people, I think it’s got one more kick left in it … that’s my personal opinion.

“But you know, people are just sitting there waiting, I’ve spoken to two blokes today, they can’t wait, they’re just waiting for the redundancy to leave.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tours MT Isa mine in Queensland and holds a press conference with Bob Katter during the rodeo weekend in August, 2023.

The region was already dealing with further job losses following the financial issues of three junior copper mining companies in the neighbouring shire of Cloncurry in recent months, which was estimated to affect another 400 jobs.

Mr Katter said the Prime Minister knew the strategic importance of Mount Isa and the North West Minerals Province judging from his numerous visits in recent years.

He said Mr Albanese needed to do something about Glencore’s planned closure, and that the CopperString transmission line needed to be expedited before its 2029 completion date to keep jobs in the region and to unlock other potential mines.

“The cost of energy and the amount of red tape is making it impossible for mines to get off the ground,” Mr Katter said.

“It’s unacceptable Australia should be in this position when we are supposed to be a mining country – not a quarrying country.”

Originally published as Prime Minister visits mining city about to face severe job losses