Newsroom

October 8, 2025

KENNEDY MP Bob Katter thanked the Federal Government, particularly Minister for Industry, Tim Ayres, for his announcement today, but he warned the $600 million over three years jointly funded investment was going to limp Mount Isa along till the next election.

“We must put on record our appreciation of the involvement by the Minister. Robbie Katter said the Premier too has been helpful, but this game is not over. It is just starting. This proposal is a Band-Aid on a compound fracture. It might staunch the bleeding but it ain’t going to fix your leg.

“We must thank all the people who came to our meetings and put shoulder to the wheel here. Thank you to all fighters for their role in achieving this stay of execution, particularly the Mayor of Mount Isa, Peta McRae, Townsville Enterprise Limited, CEO, Claudia Brunne Smith, Paul Farrow from the AWU, Maria James, CEO of MITEZ and all those other fighters who have not slept a wink over the past few months in their effort to save our town and Townsville’s industrial base.

“To Glencore I say congratulations for out-negotiating not one government, but two. I take my hat off to them, these two governments have made a $600m bet that Queensland’s minerals economy is going to be much stronger by the time the next election comes around. How convenient.

“Another phrase comes to mind. Danegeld. For those that aren’t familiar with this, it was a tax levied by the Anglo-Saxons to pay off Viking invaders of England.

“We will eager learn more about this ‘transition authority’ they have proposed.

“We are pleased to be fighting another day but are fired up by this decision and it has made us more aggressively and relentless on pursuing a reserve resource policy for gas.

“A $600 million Band-Aid is helpful, but we need an outcome that solves the source of the problem.”

Mr Katter said he that he raised the issue with Minister Ayres when he visited his office late last night to discuss Mount Isa.

“Look, I thank the federal Minister who really has been very good to deal with on the Mount Isa smelter, but unless he makes Reserve Resource Policy his next item, we are doomed and Glencore will continue to seek bailouts, after bailouts, just as they did in 2016 and 2020 and have again now.”

PHOTO: (L-R) Robbie Katter MP State Member for Traeger, Senator Hon Tim Ayres the Minister for Industry and Science & The Hon Bob Katter MP in Mount Isa