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December 13, 2024

There is no greater issue facing Mount Isa and the North West than the planned closure of Glencore’s Mount Isa copper mine, Katter’s Australian Part (KAP) Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter said.

The planned closure will have a monumental impact on Mount Isa, facing the loss of 1,200 jobs.

“1,200 jobs lost is the equivalent of Brisbane losing 180,000 jobs or Townsville losing 11,500,” Mr Katter said.

“The threat we have is from having a poor corporate citizen, and that is Glencore.

“They can not be allowed to simply sit on the mine and not allow another company to mine it,” the Member for Traeger said.

In a speech on the floor of Queensland’s Parliament, Mr Katter pointed out that this issue will not only affect Mount Isa but will have a ripple effect across North Queensland, including Townsville.

“You close the copper mine, and you compromise the symbiotic relationship between the mine, copper smelter, the acid plant relied upon by other mining projects, and the critical rail connection,” he said.

The global price of copper is rising to record levels, with predictions that demand will soon quickly outstrip supply, with more copper needed in the next 25 years than has ever been mined in human history.

“There are other mining companies out there with the appetite to invest and develop profitable, efficient mines – not lazy commodity traders,” Mr Katter said.

“Look at what was done with the copper mine in Cobar and the Ernest Henry mines.

“Glencore said these mines were dead, but small mining companies went in and breathed life back into it and running them efficiently.

“We need the Government to step in to allow someone to come in and mine and keep 1,200 jobs.

“It’s time we asked the tough question: Are we willing to let one corporate giant dictate our future, or will we back those who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get the job done?”