Copper crisis: Senate inquiry push as metal smelters and refineries face closure threat

With NQ’s copper industry on the brink, bipartisan support is being sought for a metals industry inquiry to understand the challenges. Read the latest.

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan, Dawson MP Andrew Willcox, Herbert MP Phillip Thompson, and Queensland Senator Susan McDonald, met in Townsville to push for an inquiry into Australia’s metals manufacturing industry in Townsville on Wednesday. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Pressure is being ramped up on politicians to proceed with a Senate inquiry into Australia metals manufacturing industry, despite NQ’s copper industry needing actual solutions within days.

Coalition politicians visited Townsville on Wednesday to push for the inquiry, which could offer a greater insight into the challenges facing the industry, including international competition, high energy costs, and the need to preserve 6000 direct jobs, sovereign capability, and support national defence.

Following their federal electoral wipe-out, Queensland Senator Matt Canavan conceded that the Coalition needed support from either the crossbench, Labor, or Greens senators for the inquiry to proceed.

“This is a test to the Labor Party in particular, are you going to back and support these jobs, often at union jobs, high-paying jobs in our smelters and refineries? Senator Canavan asked.

“I think it should be absolutely bipartisan that we keep these facilities in place and I do think there’s a need to discuss more broadly these issues.”

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan with Dawson MP Andrew Willcox, calling for an inquiry into Australia’s metals manufacturing industry in Townsville on Wednesday. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Even if Glencore closed its Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville copper refinery, Opposition manufacturing and sovereign capability assistant minister Andrew Willcox said an inquiry would ensure that other smelters and refineries endured.

“We need to understand exactly, let’s listen to the industry … (asking) ‘what are your problems’ so we can develop solutions for those going forward,” Mr Willcox said.

“That’s why I’ll be extremely disappointed if Labor and any of the cross benches don’t get behind us to support this inquiry.

Shadow assistant minister for manufacturing and sovereign capability Andrew Willcox. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“How could anyone argue against finding out information, finding out what’s wrong?”

A spokeswoman for Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres said the federal government was focused on “real solutions”, and was taking a strategic and considered approach to each circumstance to ensure they were building and sustaining the domestic industrial capabilities needed to strengthen our economic resilience and national security.

Industry and Science Minister Tim Ayres at Oxycut steal manufacturing in Smithfield. Picture Thomas Lisson

“What the Coalition refers to as ‘bailouts’ is, in fact, the federal government working constructively with state governments and industry to undertake serious, tailored assessments of the viability of minerals processing in Australia,” she said.

With smelters under threat across the country, Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said an inquiry would be an “important process”, but NQ’s copper industry “needs a solution in days not months” to preserve the livelihoods of 17,000 North Queenslanders.

Current smelters and refineries that are requesting taxpayer-funded assistance. Picture: Supplied.

Originally published as Copper crisis: Senate inquiry push as metal smelters and refineries face closure threat