Mount Isa copper smelter, Townsville refinery has massive implications for not just North Queensland, but Australia

We are staring down the barrel of a potential disaster in North Queensland – the looming closure of Mount Isa’s copper smelter and Townsville’s refinery won’t just erode a cornerstone of our regional economy, our national security is facing an existential threat, editor Jill Poulsen writes.

A worker handles molten copper at the at the Glencore Copper Smelter in Mount Isa. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited the plant as part of her re-election campaign. Queenslanders will go to the polls on October 31. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

We are staring down the barrel of a potential disaster in North Queensland – the looming closure of Mount Isa’s copper smelter and Townsville’s refinery won’t just erode a cornerstone of our regional economy our national security is facing an existential threat.

If Glencore shuts these vital assets, the impacts will eclipse the fallout from the Queensland Nickel closure, the pangs of which are still felt across the region.

That ripple effect was not just economic, we lost teachers as class sizes shrunk and dreams were shattered as small businesses went out of business.

Now more than ever, we need our governments to step up and intervene decisively, and without delay.

The narrative that those who have minerals in the ground hold all the power is a fallacy.

True power lies with those who can process these minerals into usable forms, especially during the dark times.

Processing, not just mining, is the key to unlocking the full potential of our resources and securing a prosperous future.

As global powers like China and the United States aggressively secure supply chains, North Queensland finds itself at the epicentre of a resource arms race, one we can’t afford to lose.

In our quest for decarbonisation, copper is the “new oil” but all of the potential windfalls are slipping through our fingers.

The stakes are high, with 17,000 direct and indirect jobs on the line and a critical piece of infrastructure essential to our nation’s future at risk.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith has rightly sounded the alarm, emphasising that safeguarding the future of copper in the North must be treated as a strategic national priority.

The North West Minerals Province is not just a regional asset; it is a national treasure that contributes significantly to North West Queensland’s Gross Regional Product.

Copper is indispensable for electric vehicles, wind turbines, energy storage, and solar panels. With the right policies and investments, North Queensland can position Australia as a global leader in critical minerals production.

The time for action is now. We need enabling infrastructure like CopperString, processing facilities, and affordable access to road, rail, and port services to unlock our potential.

The call to action is clear: S.O.S. – Save Our Smelter and Refinery.

Originally published as Mount Isa copper smelter, Townsville refinery has massive implications for not just North Queensland, but Australia