Latest news with #2GB
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ben Fordham tears into Anthony Albanese over major shutdown that could leave Australia at China's mercy
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under pressure to intervene after the closure of Australia's largest underground copper mine sparked fears the nation may be forced to rely on China for supplies. Swiss mining giant Glencore reportedly conducted its final blast on Monday, ending more than six decades of domestic production at one of the country's most historic copper mines in the outback town of Mt Isa, Queensland. 2GB host Ben Fordham unleashed on Albanese, warning that with Mount Isa's copper smelter and Townsville refinery also at risk, and that Australia's shrinking processing capacity could threaten national security and leave the sector exposed to global competition. 'Copper is as critical as it gets and this mine has just shut down after 60 years of operation,' he said. 'What happened to the PM's Future Made in Australia? 'Copper powers the so-called green, clean energy future. It runs through solar panels, electric vehicles, wind farms, power lines and batteries. 'Copper is also critical to data centres and defence systems. 'So why are we walking away? Well, smelting copper uses a huge amount of gas. Gas prices in Australia are among the highest in the world.' That's despite Australia being one of the largest exporters of liquefied natural gas in the world, as the net zero by 2050 target discourages gas exploration for domestic use. 'Glencore, the company that owns the mine, says it's no longer viable and it's going to get worse because Glencore is looking to shut the Mt Isa smelter, it's Australia's largest producer of sulphuric acid – a crucial chemical used in fertiliser manufacturing, so farmers will be forced to import fertiliser from overseas. 'And Glencore is looking at shutting Mt Isa's copper refinery, it's the country's only major copper processing facility, so we will be forced to buy copper from China.' Glencore confirmed it was preparing to place both the smelter and refinery into care and maintenance until they become financially viable. Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae has been urgently lobbying state and federal politicians for a multi-million dollar bailout to save the facilities – and the 17,000 jobs that rely on them. 'This region has been good - no, great - to Queensland for generations,' she said. 'Mt Isa has quietly powered the State and national economy.' Cr MacRae said a Queensland Resources Council economic report found the Mount Isa resources sector had contributed almost $15 billion in economic value over the past decade. 'Queensland has funded hospitals, stadiums, and public services from the wealth of this region,' she said. 'Now it's time for Queensland and Australia to return the favour. This is our moment of need.' Cr MacRae stressed the issue was not a lack of demand for copper but a global oversupply of smelting capacity, which she blamed on 'global market manipulation.' 'Glencore is not a charity,' she said. 'They're competing in a distorted global market manipulated by foreign countries intent on cornering the copper supply chain. 'The smelter and refinery are no longer viable without urgent government action – and yet they are critical to Australia's sovereign capability and decarbonisation ambitions.' The closure is being framed as a national issue, with copper considered essential to Australia's clean energy future. 'If Australia walks away from refining and processing it here, we are handing over control to others who do not share our values or strategic interests,' she said. In an internal statement to employees last week, later leaked to the media, Glencore interim chief operating officer Troy Wilson said support measures proposed by the Queensland government fell 'well short' of closing the economic gap for the copper smelter and refinery. 'We need to know in the coming weeks whether there is a viable solution on the table from governments or whether we start to planning to transition the copper smelter and refinery into care and maintenance,' he said. 'Time is running out.' Glencore has warned the two copper assets could lose billions of dollars over the next seven years, blaming rising costs and an increasingly uncompetitive business environment. On the first sitting day of Parliament last week, veteran MP Bob Katter met with the new Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Tim Ayres, to push for a rescue package for Mount Isa without giving taxpayer money directly to Glencore. 'Let me be quite clear, we don't bail out foreign billionaires,' he said. 'If Glencore won't make the smelter work, the government should step in.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Sydney Harbour Bridge protest: How serial pest Josh Lees - who has never found a fringe protest movement he didn't support (including HARSHER Covid lockdowns!) - is behind push to shut down landmark for Palestine
A pro-Palestine demonstration that would shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge is being led by a serial protester whose obsession with public rallies has spanned more than 20 years and earned him the reputation of a 'full-time pain in the a**'. Josh Lees wants to lead Australians in marching over the city's most famous landmark at a week's notice this Sunday in a 'Pro-Palestine March for Humanity' - a move opposed by Premier Chris Minns and the NSW Police Force. Since October 7, 2023 - when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, taking ore than 250 hostages and killing 1,200 people - Mr Lees, 43, has spearheaded weekly protests in Sydney, where he often addresses the crowd in a keffiyeh - a traditional form of scarf and headwear which has become a symbol of support for Palestine. Mr Lees has been adamant that Sunday's march will go ahead - boasting that the proposed rally has garnered the support of more than 150 organisations - despite police blocking the plan, citing public safety risks and major traffic disruption. Mr Lees has a long history of activism and was once branded by 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham as a 'full-time pain in the a**' who had 'a finger in as many protest pies as he can handle'. He has spent more than two decades protesting for a myriad of causes ranging from supporting refugees and LGBTQ rights, opposing the Iraq War and backing stricter Covid lockdowns. He first made headlines in Green Left Weekly as a university tutor charged with resisting arrest at a voluntary student unionism protest. In the early 2000s, he took to the streets to protest the Iraq War and then-prime minister John Howard's refugee policies. He was one of dozens of protesters arrested for camping out in Martin Place in 2011 for the Occupy Sydney movement which rallied against economic inequality. That protest push was inspired by Occupy Wall Street - but quickly petered out. That same year, he led refugee advocates during a rally outside Immigration Department offices after legislation to implement offshore processing of asylum seekers passed federal parliament. 'These are outrageous policies which are going to take us back, not even just to the dark days of the Howard years, these policies are even more cruel than the Howard Pacific Solution,' Mr Lees told ABC at the time. More recently, Mr Lees was a spokesman for the Lockdown to Zero group, which campaigned for the NSW government to toughen its policies during the Covid pandemic to keep zero community transmission of the virus. Confusingly, he was also part of a Black Lives Matter protest during lockdowns in 2020 that defied Covid laws at the time preventing such gatherings. Mr Lees is also an activist for LGBTQ rights, climate change, anti-racism and recently took part in the National Day of Action Against Trump. He also writes for Red Flag, the newsletter of Socialist Alternative, a group that identifies as Australia's largest Marxist organisation. His most recent article was published on July 6, slamming Israel for portraying itself as the victim of its war with Gaza. 'The mainstream media and politicians' constant attempts to spin the story that Israel is the victim, the underdog, the state 'defending itself', are so out of touch with reality that they are becoming increasingly desperate and farcical,' he wrote. Mr Lees was hailed by Greens MP Sue Higginson to the Sydney Morning Herald as a justice warrior, while the city's Lord Mayor Clover Moore has described this Sunday's march as a 'powerful symbol'. But one man who definitely isn't part of the fan club is NSW Premier Chris Minns. He revealed last October that Lees had made applications to NSW Police every week for the past year to march through Sydney's CBD to protest Israel's bombing of Gaza. The police presence for the protests had cost taxpayers more than $5.4million in 2024 alone, according to Minns. In addition to overtime, the figure was estimated to be closer to $10million. Minns this week reignited his war of words with Mr Lees when he slammed this Sunday's proposed march. 'The NSW Government cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice,' the premier said. 'The Bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city—used every day by thousands of people. 'Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns. 'We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos.' Mr Lees hit back by accusing Minns of interfering in police operations. He pointed out that the bridge is often shut down for major events, including a World Pride march, filming of Hollywood movies and the upcoming Sydney Marathon. 'Compare the pair,' Mr Lees captioned maps showing the street closures the August 31 marathon and Sunday's march would each cause. He has hinted at a court challenge after NSW Police blocked the bridge protest from going ahead on Wednesday. 'The process now is if the police or the government want to stop us from doing it, they have to take us to the Supreme Court and if they do that, we'll fight that in court,' Mr Lees said. 'Hundreds are starving to death… the people of Australia, and NSW, have had enough of this atrocity and are determined to take a powerful stand to make it stop. 'We will see them in court.'
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
NSW Police say they will not permit a pro-Palestinian march to cross the Harbour Bridge
New South Wales Police have said they will not grant permission for a pro-Palestinian protest to cross the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, as Sydney's Lord Mayor backs the demonstration. Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna said organisers wanted to close the bridge to allow up to 10,000 to cross, and there was not enough time to do it safely. He said that police had suggested alternative locations for the protest to take place and told reporters it was a matter of timing and public safety. "The main rationale behind that, it's quite clearly public safety," he said. "It would have a major disruption and effect on thousands of motorists … [it] would be a public safety risk that we cannot manage at this point in time." The comments came after NSW Premier Chris Minns said the protest should be held elsewhere, and Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore posting on social media that the protest should be allowed. In a social media post, the Palestine Action Group said the bridge had been closed in the past for major events and threatened to march over the bridge regardless. The backing of the Lord Mayor has infuriated many people in Sydney, with 2GB radio host Mark Levy slamming the mayor for wanting the protest to go ahead. He told listeners on his morning show 'So, Clover Moore thinks a powerful move for Sydney is a so called 'march for humanity' with pro-Palestinian activists walking over the Harbour Bridge, chanting things like 'death, death to the IDF' and holding up signs that say 'to the river to the sea."
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
2GB host Mark Levy slams Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore over planned Sydney Harbour Bridge pro-Palestinian march
2GB host Mark Levy has slammed Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for backing a pro-Palestine march across the Harbour Bridge. The Palestine Action Group in Sydney announced on Sunday that a rally was being planned across the Harbour Bridge on August 3 to send a ''powerful'' message to the world on the conflict in Gaza. Levy was left bemused as Ms Moore claimed a pro-Palestine march over the bridge would be a 'powerful symbol'. 'So, Clover Moore thinks a powerful move for Sydney is a so called 'march for humanity' with pro-Palestinian activists walking over the Harbour Bridge, chanting things like 'death, death to the IDF' and holding up signs that say 'to the river to the sea',' Levy said. 'Is she serious? 'All the while the Hamas terrorists still control Gaza and continue to hold Israeli hostages after the rape and murder of Israelis on October 7, 2023.' The Lord Mayor said she thinks the bridge should be used to stage the protest if the sentiment within the community is 'significant enough'. 'It would be an incredibly powerful symbol for our most iconic landmark to be the site of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza and in favour of lasting peace,' Ms Moore said, according to The Guardian. 'The government should work to find a suitable alternate location for this week's protests, and if the community sentiment is significant enough to warrant the use of the bridge the government should work with organisers to plan for its use.' Levy said Moore is 'kidding herself', proceeding to ask her 'why aren't you calling up the terrorists? Where's your condemnation of Hamas?' 'I mean they are already talking about defying the police. So, Clover, are you going to take responsibility if things turn violent at 1 o'clock on Sunday? 'I am sick to death of our streets being hijacked by protesters. If you want to protest and demonstrate, do it in a park or somewhere where it doesn't interrupt the lives of other Australians.' New South Wales Premier Chris Minns quashed plans for a protest of such "scale and nature" on the bridge, particularly with 'one week's notice". "The Bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city - used every day by thousands of people," he said in the statement. "Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns. "We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos." It is understood police are in discussions with organisers about other routes the protest can proceed at.
Sky News AU
22-07-2025
- Health
- Sky News AU
Chris Minns says NSW govt 'wants to do better' on hospital emergency wait times after elderly man forced to sleep on floor
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has said the government "wants to do better" on emergency department wait times after an elderly man was forced to lay on the floor of a western Sydney hospital for at least 24 hours for a bed. A 2GB listener sent host Ben Fordham a picture of her 70-year-old father from the weekend curled up on the cold ground at Blacktown Hospital among other patients. The elderly man - Raymond - had arrived on Saturday afternoon due to pain and was told he would have to wait in emergency until a hospital bed was free. Close by, an 80-year-old man was also forced to lay on the floor. It was discovered Raymond had a life-threatening haemoglobin level when he was eventually seen by a doctor some 24-hours later, Fordham said on Tuesday morning. Raymond's daughter Hayley said her dad had called her numerous times wanting to discharge himself, saying he would be seen quicker in a small country town. Mr Minns described the photo of the elderly man on the hospital floor as "distressing" and insisted the government "wants to do better" for patients and frontline staff. Fordham reminded the NSW Premier he visited hospitals across Sydney late at night over two weeks in 2022 when he was in opposition and filmed videos for social media. He used those clips to campaign for more support for health staff. Asked what he has done since being in power for two years, Mr Minns said Labor is "putting more money into health than any government in the state's history". The Premier said the 10 point rise to 40 per cent of patients being treated during clinically recommended times was due to his government's actions including removing the wages cap, lifting investment to the health sector and removal of privatisation. "I'm not coming on saying we deserve a gold star, I've never said that. I recognise we have an enormous challenge in front of us. What I'm saying to you is it would be ruinous for the public health system to go back to the old (Liberal) model," he said. The government has announced investments at Blacktown and Mt Druitt hospitals where an additional 60 beds will be added amid the population boom in Sydney's west. There will also be $700 million injected into Bankstown Hospital, due to the rising cost of its construction, News Corp reported, and a rebuild of the facilities at Canterbury and Fairfield. Mr Minns is also hoping the federal government's election promise of 50 urgent health care clinics will encourage patients to steer away from hospitals unless its an emergency. "I'm not mucking around when I say this is the biggest investment in capital infrastructure for Western Sydney health in decades," the NSW Premier said. "As you can tell for Raymond and other people, it's well overdue... "We can't have a situation where a 70-year-old man or an 80-year-old man (where) the only relief that they can get is to crawl up in the foetal position on the floor of the emergency department. That is not good enough and I don't want anyone left with the impression that we want that to stand." Shadow NSW health minister Kellie Sloane said it was "pretty shocking" to see the photo of Raymond curled up on the hospital floor waiting for a bed. "This should not be happening. Patients at Blacktown sleeping on the floor because there simply is not enough beds. Decent people paying tax their entire lives and when they're at their most vulnerable and sick our system has let them down," she said. "It is one of the poorest performing hospitals in the west. It ranks 20th out of the 20 hospitals in terms of dealing with people coming into the emergency department."
