Newsroom

October 14, 2025

The Treasurer Friday confirmed that it’s bureaucrats and PowerLink’s incompetence that will see yet more delays for CopperString, the Member for Traeger and Leader of the Katter’s Australian Party (KAP), Robbie Katter has said.

“The utter incompetence of PowerLink to need yet more Federal approvals, taking up to more than two years, is mind blowing, Mr Katter said.

“The Prime Minster of Australia, the Queensland government, local councils, are all on board there are approvals ready to go for much of the project - yet the Canberra boffins reckon they want another stab at stalling this nation building, critically significant project.

“It’s simply ludicrous,” the leader of the KAP said.

Commenting on the investment in the Western Link communities and surrounding projects, Mr Katter said it was evidence of the second short term band-aid fix from the Government in the space of a week.

“Much like the government’s investment in Glencore and their Copper Smelter in Mount Isa, this has the air of a short-term fix to a problem that won’t go away – until CopperString is finished, all the way to Mount Isa,” Mr Katter said.

“State wealth generating projects in the North West need confidence and reliable power supply.  Bespoke solution exploration doesn’t give long term confidence.  Connection to the national energy grid does.

Mr Katter however welcomed the announcement of critical upgrades to infrastructure in Hughenden.

“Mayor Kate Peddle has done an outstanding job advocating for the urgently needed upgrades, especially the sewerage and water systems in Hughenden,” Mr Katter said.

“The whole council should be congratulated on taking action on what is crumbling infrastructure, neglect for years,” he said.