‘Push CopperString faster’: Albanese, Crisafulli, Katters back Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap
A plan by the Mount Isa mayor to diversify her town and focus on cheap electricity has been praised by her state and federal counterparts who warn the success of Mount Isa is “paramount”.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A new plan by the Mount Isa mayor to diversify her town has been praised by her state and federal counterparts who warn the success of Mount Isa is “paramount” for Australia.
Mayor Peta MacRae launched a 203-page ‘road map’ on Friday, February 21, with the intention of laying out how Mount Isa can turbocharge itself towards more jobs, cheaper energy, and more mining.
A core part of the plan was embracing renewable energy to create low-cost power for the region’s mines.
State member for Traeger Robbie Katter said he’s aware of the road map and while he congratulates the Mayor and council on being proactive, his priorities for Mount Isa were far more targeted.
Mr Katter said he wants to see CopperString built urgently and for the best price possible, Glencore to relinquish MICO (Mount Isa Copper Operations) and sell the mine to a more willing operator, all three levels of government investing in the copper mining and processing supply chain and ensuring new mines were helped as they start.
“We know there is more than $500 billion in minerals in the North West, and we have a single global mining company wanting to set up a new mine (Eva Copper Mine) but they can’t get electricity,” Mr Katter said.
“The Queensland Government needs to push CopperString faster, and they need to tell Glencore where to go.”
A spokesman for the Crisafulli Queensland Government said for a decade the previous Labor Government had shut-out regional councils and neglected regional Queenslanders.
“The Premier met with the Mount Isa Regional Council during his visit this year, discussing the government’s priorities of driving economic growth, delivering jobs, and supporting North West Queenslanders.
When Anthony Albanese was asked about the road map, his office said the Prime Minister was “a big supporter of CopperString” and repeated comments he’d made last year.
“It’s about manufacturing. It’s about the new economy and clean energy driving that manufacturing,” Mr Albanese said at the 2024 Bush Summit in Townsville.
Federal Kennedy MP Bob Katter said all levels of government needed to “show some backbone” and ensure the Glencore decision to shut MICO does not slowly drain the town over the next two years.
“They’ve had one foot out the door for years, they’re not interested in hanging around and would prefer to be mining copper in the Congo, so it’s clear to me we shouldn’t be hanging Mount Isa’s future on Glencore,” Mr Katter Snr said.
“The government has to explain what it is going to do now about maintaining its sovereign capability to produce copper, and that capability centre of North West Queensland.”
Federal Coalition candidate for Kennedy Annette Swaine, who will be taking on Bob Katter at this year’s Federal election, commended Mount Isa City Council for having the ambition to support the town’s families and small businesses.
“I will digest the document and support the council where I can,” Ms Swaine said.
“It is important for the Mount Isa region that these projects support the workforce and the business community.”
Ms Swaine said people needed to be reminded that “Mount Isa is paramount”.
The Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap can be read in full here: mountisa.qld.gov.au/latest-news/Future-Ready-Economy-Roadmap-Released
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘Push CopperString faster’: Albanese, Crisafulli, Katters back Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap
‘Severe’ TC Alfred intensifies to category four for second time
Tropical Cyclone Alfred has once again intensified to a category four system, as it continues to creep slowly parallel to the Queensland coast. Here’s the threat experts warn we can expect in the coming days.
Why Minister won’t stop Qld police whistleblower ‘witch hunt’
The Premier and his Minister have faced questions about why the Qld Police is on a Fitzgerald-like ‘witch hunt’ to silence whistleblowers in the ranks.
Mining town rocked by man’s ‘sudden death’
The sudden death of a man in his 30s has sent a mine village in Queensland into shock.
Power pair switch the dial to Star
Breakfast radio DJs Archie and Donny have given a heartfelt goodbye to their beloved Power 100 listeners and said hello to their new home at Star.
Offender jailed for attacking sleeping man with pole
A man was injured after he woke to a man standing at the end of his bed armed with a metal pole, with a court hearing the victim’s roommate let the offender in unknowing as to what would unfold.
‘Country’s best wrestlers’: Tropical Rumble to shake-up NQ
Nothing will be left in the locker room when the Tropical Rumble thunders its way into the ring this Saturday.