Newsroom
GLENCORE CONTINUES TO STAND ON GOVT’S THROAT, BULLIES WORKERS: KATTER
December 19, 2025
When will the Government stand up to the bullying tactics of multinational giant Glencore after its $600 million taxpayer-funded bailout leads to pay disputes and threatened strikes, Member for Traeger and Katter’s Australian Party Leader Robbie Katter has asked.
Following claims of deceptive “smoke and mirrors” pay deals that rebranded existing payments as pay rises, Mr Katter called on both Queensland and Federal Governments to stand up to the corporate bully after handing its CEO hundreds of millions of Australian taxpayers’ dollars.
“Why are we tolerating these behaviours and games from a multinational monster that wanted to pump waste into the Artesian Basin, close a viable copper mine that others wanted a crack at, threatens to close its smelter and refinery, killing 17,000 jobs and the livelihood of surrounding communities, and holds workers to ransom, failing to offer a fair go to these hardworking families,” Mr Katter said.
“Why were fair pay rates not written into the terms and conditions of the bailout negotiations?”
He reiterated claims that both levels of government could surely see that Glencore was not operating in Australia for Australia’s best interest, and only in it for its shareholders and the global commodity trading board in Switzerland.
In October, Mr Katter directed calls to the Premier to seize the opportunity to stand by his commitment to not rule anything out and step up to ensure the viability of Queensland’s copper manufacturing capacity.
Mr Katter said there were real solutions, including equity share structures that Glencore had publicly stated it would consider, to achieve long-term capability and give workers confidence.
“I was heartened to see the Federal and State Governments beginning to see the opportunity in the North West Minerals Province, but unfortunately there is now a big question mark over whether it was money well-spent in terms of our future prosperity,” the Member for Traeger said.
When the Mount Isa Copper and Townsville Refinery were initially saved from closure, Mr Katter warned it was only the half-way mark to securing Australia’s critical sovereign capability.
“I said that it was not yet time for champagne and celebrations and that the Australian industry first needed the confidence that this country would retain the ability to create product locally and not be held ransom to overseas interests,” he said.
While Mr Katter praised the Federal Government for recognising the importance of keeping the smelter operational, he said they had to remain at the negotiating table and stand up to Glencore to truly reform the smelter.
“This latest pay dispute illustrates that’s not the case, and that this multinational giant that makes enormous profit off regional Queensland is behaving as un-Australian as you can get,” he said.