Latest news with #MacRae
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- 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.
The Advertiser
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
'Air force baby': Why this Aussie TikToker is moving into Changi Airport
TikToker Maddy MacRae (inset) and Changi Airport, where she is living for a week. By Sarah Falson Updated July 29 2025 - 1:59pm, first published 12:52pm Move over Tom Hanks, an Australian comedian and TikToker has moved into Changi Airport until August. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area Can you actually die of boredom living in an airport? Sydneysider Maddy MacRae plans to find out for a week, and live stream her way through it. The viral sensation said she was inspired to live in an airport after watching Tom Hanks in the 2004 film The Terminal recently, and just had to try it out for herself. She chose well; there are definitely more boring airports out there than Singapore's Changi, which was named World's Best Airport 2025 by Skytrax. "It's quite insane how much stuff you can do at Changi - more than you probably expect," Ms MacRae told ACM (the publisher of this masthead). "I'm looking forward to visiting Jewel, which is this huge entertainment and shopping complex connected to the four terminals. It looks like there's lots of things to do there, which should help pass the time. Ooo and the butterfly garden. Can't forget that." Changi does indeed have an actual butterfly garden, as well as a cactus garden, a park with floral canopies, the Enchanted Garden full of orchids, and another garden called Dreamscape which "merges Nature and Technology in a magical symphony", according to the Changi website. Jewel Changi Airport is a multi-dimensional entertainment and retail complex, and the airport also boasts luxury shops, a huge array of food outlets, a swimming pool and a dinosaur trail called Jurassic Mile. Changi's Butterfly Garden. Ms MacRae isn't slumming it like Mr Hanks and sleeping across the airport seats; the TikToker is staying at the Crowne Plaza hotel inside Changi Airport. "I figured that if I'm going to be living inside an airport for a week, I at least deserve a decent night's sleep," she said. Ms MacRae's TikTok includes humorous content about friends, weddings, family, relationships and dating, and she also posts a healthy amount of travel content. She revealed travel had an important place in her life, and not just because it's fun. "I'm an air force baby! My dad was in the air force and is now a Qantas pilot, so I've been so very lucky to travel throughout my life," she said. "And now my job takes me all over the world and I get to share that with my audience. Learning about new cultures and trying new experiences and foods has always been the best part about travelling." Changi's Jewel Rain Vortex Rainbow. Her travel content includes a bit about the latest airline trend in which they record their safety demonstrations "anywhere but on a plane", as well as the ultra-organised individual who organises the friend-group holiday and keeps everyone on a tight schedule. Ms MacRae called travel content "so relatable". "I loved making the safety demonstration video but I've also made a couple on airport security being the scariest experience ever and also watching someone else's movie on a plane rather than your own - why is their movie so captivating when I can't even hear it and I have a screen right in front of me??" she said. Follow Maddy MacRae @maddy_macrae_ on TikTok to see her shenanigans at Changi Airport, including live streams, until she heads home on Saturday, August 2. Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
South Wales Argus
16-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Scotland desperate to finish Summer Series on high
Following an opening day 31-17 loss to England, Scotland suffered their second defeat of the competition at the hands of hosts Wales losing 52-29 last Friday. Having been 28-3 down after 36 minutes, Scotland rallied with four tries of their own, outscoring their opponents 26-24 over the next 44 minutes. 'We want to finish really strong,' the 20-year-old said. 'We've had some really good moments throughout this campaign, in the English and Welsh games. 'The vibe in camp is pretty positive. We've been doing mini challenges within the squad that keep the competition and excitement up. 'Another positive is everyone has gotten closer and closer as the camp has gone on, and we're really looking forward to kicking on into that Irish game and hopefully ending in a positive manner.' At the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, Ceitidh Ainsworth scored just before half-time and then Freya MacColl grabbed a double after the break, either side of Poppy Mellanby's try to see Scotland show real fight against Wales. Alongside that second-half performance, Scotland fought valiantly against England in Round 1 and enjoyed periods of success against the Auld Enemy. MacRae acknowledged the challenge now for her and her teammates was to put together a complete performance across a full 80 minutes. 'A rugby game is never going to be perfect,' the inside centre continued. 'We're expecting that there's going to be mistakes from both sides, that's just the nature of sport. "But we're looking to link up all those moments that we've had and be slightly more consistent with it. 'And if we can do that, I know for a fact that if we do what we've been doing in training, we can definitely bring it come Thursday.' Ireland also go into the final round of fixtures looking to bounce back from a defeat in Round 2 where they were downed 41-12 by France. But having won their opening match against Wales 27-10 and led France 12-10 during the first half last time out, MacRae is more than aware of the threat Ireland will pose. 'They've obviously got quite a lot of pace on their wings,' she added. 'They all have a physical pack but we're aware of how Irish teams play and we're excited to get stuck in.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at U6N | SIX NATIONS - YouTube and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
Powys County Times
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Scotland desperate to finish Summer Series on high
Lucy MacRae says Scotland are desperate to end the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series on a high when they take on Ireland on Thursday. Following an opening day 31-17 loss to England, Scotland suffered their second defeat of the competition at the hands of hosts Wales losing 52-29 last Friday. Having been 28-3 down after 36 minutes, Scotland rallied with four tries of their own, outscoring their opponents 26-24 over the next 44 minutes. 'We want to finish really strong,' the 20-year-old said. 'We've had some really good moments throughout this campaign, in the English and Welsh games. 'The vibe in camp is pretty positive. We've been doing mini challenges within the squad that keep the competition and excitement up. 'Another positive is everyone has gotten closer and closer as the camp has gone on, and we're really looking forward to kicking on into that Irish game and hopefully ending in a positive manner.' Matchday 2 ✅☀️ #U6NSummerSeries — Six Nations Under-20s (@SixNationsU20) July 11, 2025 At the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, Ceitidh Ainsworth scored just before half-time and then Freya MacColl grabbed a double after the break, either side of Poppy Mellanby's try to see Scotland show real fight against Wales. Alongside that second-half performance, Scotland fought valiantly against England in Round 1 and enjoyed periods of success against the Auld Enemy. MacRae acknowledged the challenge now for her and her teammates was to put together a complete performance across a full 80 minutes. 'A rugby game is never going to be perfect,' the inside centre continued. 'We're expecting that there's going to be mistakes from both sides, that's just the nature of sport. "But we're looking to link up all those moments that we've had and be slightly more consistent with it. 'And if we can do that, I know for a fact that if we do what we've been doing in training, we can definitely bring it come Thursday.' Ireland also go into the final round of fixtures looking to bounce back from a defeat in Round 2 where they were downed 41-12 by France. But having won their opening match against Wales 27-10 and led France 12-10 during the first half last time out, MacRae is more than aware of the threat Ireland will pose. 'They've obviously got quite a lot of pace on their wings,' she added. 'They all have a physical pack but we're aware of how Irish teams play and we're excited to get stuck in.'
The Herald Scotland
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland desperate to finish Summer Series on high
Following an opening day 31-17 loss to England, Scotland suffered their second defeat of the competition at the hands of hosts Wales losing 52-29 last Friday. Having been 28-3 down after 36 minutes, Scotland rallied with four tries of their own, outscoring their opponents 26-24 over the next 44 minutes. 'We want to finish really strong,' the 20-year-old said. 'We've had some really good moments throughout this campaign, in the English and Welsh games. 'The vibe in camp is pretty positive. We've been doing mini challenges within the squad that keep the competition and excitement up. 'Another positive is everyone has gotten closer and closer as the camp has gone on, and we're really looking forward to kicking on into that Irish game and hopefully ending in a positive manner.' At the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, Ceitidh Ainsworth scored just before half-time and then Freya MacColl grabbed a double after the break, either side of Poppy Mellanby's try to see Scotland show real fight against Wales. Alongside that second-half performance, Scotland fought valiantly against England in Round 1 and enjoyed periods of success against the Auld Enemy. MacRae acknowledged the challenge now for her and her teammates was to put together a complete performance across a full 80 minutes. 'A rugby game is never going to be perfect,' the inside centre continued. 'We're expecting that there's going to be mistakes from both sides, that's just the nature of sport. "But we're looking to link up all those moments that we've had and be slightly more consistent with it. 'And if we can do that, I know for a fact that if we do what we've been doing in training, we can definitely bring it come Thursday.' Ireland also go into the final round of fixtures looking to bounce back from a defeat in Round 2 where they were downed 41-12 by France. But having won their opening match against Wales 27-10 and led France 12-10 during the first half last time out, MacRae is more than aware of the threat Ireland will pose. 'They've obviously got quite a lot of pace on their wings,' she added. 'They all have a physical pack but we're aware of how Irish teams play and we're excited to get stuck in.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at U6N | SIX NATIONS - YouTube and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
