More announcements, still no poles and wires! The Leader of the KAP and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said in response to the Treasurer’s announcement on CopperString in Townsville.
“You have to ask yourself, is the LNP serious about building CopperString, or are they just like Labor? He said.
The KAP leader, while acknowledging the investment in the forward budget, was frustrated there were still no poles and wires, and the miners in the west were no more confident of ever being connected to the NEM, despite $403 million being allocated in the 2025-26 financial year.
“If there’s been more than $400 million spent in the last 12 months, it’s awfully hard to see what it’s gone to, and that’s a problem. We all need confidence that Mount Isa and the North West will be connected,” Mr Katter said.
“We can’t lose sight of what this project is all about; giving miners the confidence to develop the North West Minerals Province. Nothing less.
“To do that you need to build all the way to Mount Isa and prove that you will – not just in words or numbers in a spreadsheet.
“When I see reports of 76 million litres of diesel being burned for power, and mines building their own solar and wind farms, you’d think we’re in a remote underdeveloped third world country! It’s embarrassing.
“This sort of environment for investors doesn’t line up with the reality of us being a critical minerals and copper powerhouse. It’s like our governments and their city bureaucrats are doing everything in their power to hold the state and the North West back,” the Member for Traeger said.
Mr Katter reiterated that he was critically concerned that mines with massive development potential are no more, and even less confident that they will ever be connected to the NEM.
“You’d think the LNP would be better at this development business than Labor, but to date, they’ve just delivered the same – no confidence,” the KAP Leader said.
“More than $700 billion of critical minerals and metals are stuck in the ground, and a key enabler is reliable and affordable power. And we just don’t have that.
“Even if there were confidence, but starting construction west, as well as east, the investment, and boom to Queensland’s economy and rural jobs would kick off.
“While the western link remains a ‘maybe, nice to do’, and there are no poles or wires anywhere, we’re really at a standstill, being fed nice words and numbers from Brisbane.
“Get on with the poles and wires and show us the western link will go ahead; with action, not words,” Mr Katter said.