Australia’s metals crisis: Push for inquiry with jobs and facilities on the edge

Australia’s metals manufacturing industry has reached a moment of reckoning, with pressure being ramped up for an inquiry before smelters and refineries collapse. Find out more.

As Australia’s metals manufacturing industry struggles to stay afloat and calls for government interventions in the face of rising energy prices and crushing competition from China, the Coalition is pushing for a Senate inquiry.

Time is running out for government intervention to save North Queensland’s copper industry by financially propping up Glencore’s Mount Isa smelter, and Townsville’s refinery.

But copper is just one of the commodities under pressure, with concerns also revolving around aluminium, lead, and zinc, with at least 10 smelters and refineries across Australia seeking federal government support.

Across these facilities, more than 6000 Australians are directly employed, and thousands of other jobs rely on these facilities staying open.

With the federal government committing more than $10 billion to prop up struggling smelters and refineries, the Coalition wants the government to provide certainty to the Mount Isa and Townsville communities.

Dawson MP Andrew Wilcox, LNP.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the industry, shadow assistant minister for manufacturing and sovereign capability Andrew Willcox announced on Wednesday that his party would push for a Senate inquiry into the future of Australia’s metals manufacturing industry.

“A full inquiry aims at uncovering reasons behind these major assets and others like it across Australia being put in jeopardy, and more importantly what the Federal Government can and should be doing to prevent such closures,” Mr Willcox said.

“If we let these important assets go by the wayside, others around the world, such as China and Indonesia will fill the void.

“Australian smelting and refining are already up against it with stiff competition internationally and the closure of these facilities would be yet another blow to our sovereign capabilities.”

Mount Isa Copper's Adam Purkis and Townsville Enterprise's Claudia Brumme-Smith are pushing to save NQ’s copper industry. Picture: Supplied.

The Coalition highlighted the impact of rising energy prices, where there had been an increase of 10.6 per cent for electricity prices and 45.3 per cent for gas, since Labor took office.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson remembers the devastation inflicted on the Townsville economy when the nickel refinery was shut down.

“I’ll be heading to Canberra to fight for our local jobs that are under threat from Labor’s poor energy policy,” Mr Thompson said.

Rather than more bailouts, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation Alex Hawke wanted to address the underlying energy, industrial and regulatory challenges.

“The proposed Senate inquiry would be a valuable opportunity to hear directly from industry and will help paint a more accurate picture of their challenges and opportunities,” he said.

For more information, visit: www.keepourcopper.com.au.

Originally published as Australia’s metals crisis: Push for inquiry with jobs and facilities on the edge