Latest news with #NorthQueenslanders
The Advertiser
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Economic death spiral' fear over ailing copper smelter
The north Queensland economy is facing an "economic death spiral" and the loss of 17,000 jobs without an immediate government bailout for mining giant Glencore's copper operations, regional leaders have warned. A delegation, including members of Katter's Australian Party, is in Canberra lobbying the federal government for funding to allow Glencore's copper smelter at Mt Isa to remain open. Last week, Glencore told staff it was preparing to put the smelter and Townsville copper refinery into care and maintenance until market conditions improve. The Swiss company closed its underground copper mine at Mt Isa this week, costing almost 500 direct jobs. Mt Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said the end of the mine's 100-year history was "devastating in itself". "But to hear that our smelter could potentially be going into care and maintenance, along with the refinery in Townsville, would put our economic ecosystem into a death spiral," she said on Thursday. "Without our smelter, there's no sulfuric acid for the phosphate, and without that phosphate and fertiliser, you will not have the agricultural industry in Queensland." Five hundred jobs are also under threat at Dyno Nobel's Phosphate Hill operations near Mt Isa, with a strategic review under way because high gas prices have made fertiliser production increasingly uneconomical. Glencore predicts its smelter and the Townsville copper refinery will lose $2.2 billion over the next seven years, and a decision to close them could come as soon as September. It was "no overestimation" to say that this would cost 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, Ms MacRae said, putting Townsville at an unemployment rate of 18 per cent, "which is simply unacceptable". Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said the Queensland delegation had a "big day" of meetings with industry and government on Thursday to try to secure immediate support. "We don't have a lot of time. It's five minutes to midnight, and we need a deal right now," she said. Federal MP Bob Katter said there would be retribution at the ballot box, if the government allowed Mt Isa to vanish without a trace. "North Queenslanders have an enviable record in completely destroying politicians who treat us like this. So if you think that's a threat, I absolutely promise you it's a threat." Glencore head of corporate affairs Cassandra McCarthy told the ABC "we're running out of time". "It's not just about Glencore, it's about supporting the other miners in the region as well. And that's why we think it's worthy that the government looks at a solution that supports a region, not just the smelter." The Queensland and federal governments have indicated they want to strike a deal to keep the smelter open, but discussions are still under way. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki said the federal government had a significant role to play in the negotiations "and it will be a national disgrace if the federal government and Glencore are not at the table negotiating". "The federal government must be part of a short-term solution while they develop a long-term strategy," he said. Glencore smelter employee Cameron Gibson said the industry was "pretty close to my heart" because his father had worked at the Mt Isa operation for 33 years and he had been there for 32 years. "This is not about a company, it's not about politics, this is about saving a community, it's about saving rural and remote Australia," he said. "The royalties that the governments get out of places like Mt Isa … that will stop, and that will create a cash flow problem for the governments and all levels." The north Queensland economy is facing an "economic death spiral" and the loss of 17,000 jobs without an immediate government bailout for mining giant Glencore's copper operations, regional leaders have warned. A delegation, including members of Katter's Australian Party, is in Canberra lobbying the federal government for funding to allow Glencore's copper smelter at Mt Isa to remain open. Last week, Glencore told staff it was preparing to put the smelter and Townsville copper refinery into care and maintenance until market conditions improve. The Swiss company closed its underground copper mine at Mt Isa this week, costing almost 500 direct jobs. Mt Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said the end of the mine's 100-year history was "devastating in itself". "But to hear that our smelter could potentially be going into care and maintenance, along with the refinery in Townsville, would put our economic ecosystem into a death spiral," she said on Thursday. "Without our smelter, there's no sulfuric acid for the phosphate, and without that phosphate and fertiliser, you will not have the agricultural industry in Queensland." Five hundred jobs are also under threat at Dyno Nobel's Phosphate Hill operations near Mt Isa, with a strategic review under way because high gas prices have made fertiliser production increasingly uneconomical. Glencore predicts its smelter and the Townsville copper refinery will lose $2.2 billion over the next seven years, and a decision to close them could come as soon as September. It was "no overestimation" to say that this would cost 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, Ms MacRae said, putting Townsville at an unemployment rate of 18 per cent, "which is simply unacceptable". Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said the Queensland delegation had a "big day" of meetings with industry and government on Thursday to try to secure immediate support. "We don't have a lot of time. It's five minutes to midnight, and we need a deal right now," she said. Federal MP Bob Katter said there would be retribution at the ballot box, if the government allowed Mt Isa to vanish without a trace. "North Queenslanders have an enviable record in completely destroying politicians who treat us like this. So if you think that's a threat, I absolutely promise you it's a threat." Glencore head of corporate affairs Cassandra McCarthy told the ABC "we're running out of time". "It's not just about Glencore, it's about supporting the other miners in the region as well. And that's why we think it's worthy that the government looks at a solution that supports a region, not just the smelter." The Queensland and federal governments have indicated they want to strike a deal to keep the smelter open, but discussions are still under way. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki said the federal government had a significant role to play in the negotiations "and it will be a national disgrace if the federal government and Glencore are not at the table negotiating". "The federal government must be part of a short-term solution while they develop a long-term strategy," he said. Glencore smelter employee Cameron Gibson said the industry was "pretty close to my heart" because his father had worked at the Mt Isa operation for 33 years and he had been there for 32 years. "This is not about a company, it's not about politics, this is about saving a community, it's about saving rural and remote Australia," he said. "The royalties that the governments get out of places like Mt Isa … that will stop, and that will create a cash flow problem for the governments and all levels." The north Queensland economy is facing an "economic death spiral" and the loss of 17,000 jobs without an immediate government bailout for mining giant Glencore's copper operations, regional leaders have warned. A delegation, including members of Katter's Australian Party, is in Canberra lobbying the federal government for funding to allow Glencore's copper smelter at Mt Isa to remain open. Last week, Glencore told staff it was preparing to put the smelter and Townsville copper refinery into care and maintenance until market conditions improve. The Swiss company closed its underground copper mine at Mt Isa this week, costing almost 500 direct jobs. Mt Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said the end of the mine's 100-year history was "devastating in itself". "But to hear that our smelter could potentially be going into care and maintenance, along with the refinery in Townsville, would put our economic ecosystem into a death spiral," she said on Thursday. "Without our smelter, there's no sulfuric acid for the phosphate, and without that phosphate and fertiliser, you will not have the agricultural industry in Queensland." Five hundred jobs are also under threat at Dyno Nobel's Phosphate Hill operations near Mt Isa, with a strategic review under way because high gas prices have made fertiliser production increasingly uneconomical. Glencore predicts its smelter and the Townsville copper refinery will lose $2.2 billion over the next seven years, and a decision to close them could come as soon as September. It was "no overestimation" to say that this would cost 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, Ms MacRae said, putting Townsville at an unemployment rate of 18 per cent, "which is simply unacceptable". Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said the Queensland delegation had a "big day" of meetings with industry and government on Thursday to try to secure immediate support. "We don't have a lot of time. It's five minutes to midnight, and we need a deal right now," she said. Federal MP Bob Katter said there would be retribution at the ballot box, if the government allowed Mt Isa to vanish without a trace. "North Queenslanders have an enviable record in completely destroying politicians who treat us like this. So if you think that's a threat, I absolutely promise you it's a threat." Glencore head of corporate affairs Cassandra McCarthy told the ABC "we're running out of time". "It's not just about Glencore, it's about supporting the other miners in the region as well. And that's why we think it's worthy that the government looks at a solution that supports a region, not just the smelter." The Queensland and federal governments have indicated they want to strike a deal to keep the smelter open, but discussions are still under way. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki said the federal government had a significant role to play in the negotiations "and it will be a national disgrace if the federal government and Glencore are not at the table negotiating". "The federal government must be part of a short-term solution while they develop a long-term strategy," he said. Glencore smelter employee Cameron Gibson said the industry was "pretty close to my heart" because his father had worked at the Mt Isa operation for 33 years and he had been there for 32 years. "This is not about a company, it's not about politics, this is about saving a community, it's about saving rural and remote Australia," he said. "The royalties that the governments get out of places like Mt Isa … that will stop, and that will create a cash flow problem for the governments and all levels." The north Queensland economy is facing an "economic death spiral" and the loss of 17,000 jobs without an immediate government bailout for mining giant Glencore's copper operations, regional leaders have warned. A delegation, including members of Katter's Australian Party, is in Canberra lobbying the federal government for funding to allow Glencore's copper smelter at Mt Isa to remain open. Last week, Glencore told staff it was preparing to put the smelter and Townsville copper refinery into care and maintenance until market conditions improve. The Swiss company closed its underground copper mine at Mt Isa this week, costing almost 500 direct jobs. Mt Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said the end of the mine's 100-year history was "devastating in itself". "But to hear that our smelter could potentially be going into care and maintenance, along with the refinery in Townsville, would put our economic ecosystem into a death spiral," she said on Thursday. "Without our smelter, there's no sulfuric acid for the phosphate, and without that phosphate and fertiliser, you will not have the agricultural industry in Queensland." Five hundred jobs are also under threat at Dyno Nobel's Phosphate Hill operations near Mt Isa, with a strategic review under way because high gas prices have made fertiliser production increasingly uneconomical. Glencore predicts its smelter and the Townsville copper refinery will lose $2.2 billion over the next seven years, and a decision to close them could come as soon as September. It was "no overestimation" to say that this would cost 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, Ms MacRae said, putting Townsville at an unemployment rate of 18 per cent, "which is simply unacceptable". Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said the Queensland delegation had a "big day" of meetings with industry and government on Thursday to try to secure immediate support. "We don't have a lot of time. It's five minutes to midnight, and we need a deal right now," she said. Federal MP Bob Katter said there would be retribution at the ballot box, if the government allowed Mt Isa to vanish without a trace. "North Queenslanders have an enviable record in completely destroying politicians who treat us like this. So if you think that's a threat, I absolutely promise you it's a threat." Glencore head of corporate affairs Cassandra McCarthy told the ABC "we're running out of time". "It's not just about Glencore, it's about supporting the other miners in the region as well. And that's why we think it's worthy that the government looks at a solution that supports a region, not just the smelter." The Queensland and federal governments have indicated they want to strike a deal to keep the smelter open, but discussions are still under way. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki said the federal government had a significant role to play in the negotiations "and it will be a national disgrace if the federal government and Glencore are not at the table negotiating". "The federal government must be part of a short-term solution while they develop a long-term strategy," he said. Glencore smelter employee Cameron Gibson said the industry was "pretty close to my heart" because his father had worked at the Mt Isa operation for 33 years and he had been there for 32 years. "This is not about a company, it's not about politics, this is about saving a community, it's about saving rural and remote Australia," he said. "The royalties that the governments get out of places like Mt Isa … that will stop, and that will create a cash flow problem for the governments and all levels."
Perth Now
31-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
'Economic death spiral' fear over ailing copper smelter
The north Queensland economy is facing an "economic death spiral" and the loss of 17,000 jobs without an immediate government bailout for mining giant Glencore's copper operations, regional leaders have warned. A delegation, including members of Katter's Australian Party, is in Canberra lobbying the federal government for funding to allow Glencore's copper smelter at Mt Isa to remain open. Last week, Glencore told staff it was preparing to put the smelter and Townsville copper refinery into care and maintenance until market conditions improve. The Swiss company closed its underground copper mine at Mt Isa this week, costing almost 500 direct jobs. Mt Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said the end of the mine's 100-year history was "devastating in itself". "But to hear that our smelter could potentially be going into care and maintenance, along with the refinery in Townsville, would put our economic ecosystem into a death spiral," she said on Thursday. "Without our smelter, there's no sulfuric acid for the phosphate, and without that phosphate and fertiliser, you will not have the agricultural industry in Queensland." Five hundred jobs are also under threat at Dyno Nobel's Phosphate Hill operations near Mt Isa, with a strategic review under way because high gas prices have made fertiliser production increasingly uneconomical. Glencore predicts its smelter and the Townsville copper refinery will lose $2.2 billion over the next seven years, and a decision to close them could come as soon as September. It was "no overestimation" to say that this would cost 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, Ms MacRae said, putting Townsville at an unemployment rate of 18 per cent, "which is simply unacceptable". Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said the Queensland delegation had a "big day" of meetings with industry and government on Thursday to try to secure immediate support. "We don't have a lot of time. It's five minutes to midnight, and we need a deal right now," she said. Federal MP Bob Katter said there would be retribution at the ballot box, if the government allowed Mt Isa to vanish without a trace. "North Queenslanders have an enviable record in completely destroying politicians who treat us like this. So if you think that's a threat, I absolutely promise you it's a threat." Glencore head of corporate affairs Cassandra McCarthy told the ABC "we're running out of time". "We really need to know in the next couple of weeks whether there is going to be enough support on the table to allow us to continue to operate," she said. "It's not just about Glencore, it's about supporting the other miners in the region as well. And that's why we think it's worthy that the government looks at a solution that supports a region, not just the smelter." The Queensland and federal governments have indicated they want to strike a deal to keep the smelter open, but discussions are still under way. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki said the federal government had a significant role to play in the negotiations "and it will be a national disgrace if the federal government and Glencore are not at the table negotiating". "The federal government must be part of a short-term solution while they develop a long-term strategy," he said. Glencore smelter employee Cameron Gibson said the industry was "pretty close to my heart" because his father had worked at the Mt Isa operation for 33 years and he had been there for 32 years. "This is not about a company, it's not about politics, this is about saving a community, it's about saving rural and remote Australia," he said. "The royalties that the governments get out of places like Mt Isa … that will stop, and that will create a cash flow problem for the governments and all levels."
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘300mm': More wild weather on the way
Experts have warned more than 300mm of rain could fall in parts of inland Queensland in the coming days, as heavy rainfall and flooding continues to batter the state. The North Tropical Coast, Central and South West districts have copped the brunt of the severe weather event, recording significant rainfall since Monday morning. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the wet weather system was expected to hang around for 'many' more days. 'These rainfall totals are likely to grow (on Tuesday) and in the coming days,' he said. 'Since 9am on Monday through until 5am AEST Tuesday morning, some of the highest rainfall totals across Queensland have been 124mm at Paluma on the North Tropical Coast, we've also seen 121mm at Malboona in the Central West district, 110mm at Quilpie in the South West district and 51mm at The Monument in the Central West district.' The bureau issued a severe weather warning on Tuesday morning for the state's Central and North West districts and parts of Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Channel Country and Maranoa and Warrego districts. Heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding is likely to continue through the warning area throughout Tuesday before easing on Wednesday, according to the bureau. 'Through these large outback regions in Queensland, 100mm are possible in the coming 24 hours and isolated locations in these regions could see up to 200mm,' Mr Hines said. 'Even outside of this warning area, other parts of Queensland could continue to see moderate rainfall totals with the chance that thunderstorms could bring locally heavy falls to other areas as well, (including) the North Tropical Coast.' Townsville has been lashed with huge rainfall with many North Queenslanders hit by flooding for the second time this year. Mr Hines said while rainfall totals weren't likely to be unusual for the north tropics, they could cause 'significant impact' on the back of recent wet weather events. The state's river network is also expected to experience flooding in the coming days. 'Flood warnings are in place for many rivers throughout the Central and Western districts as well as some rivers in the North Tropical Coast and Herbert and lower Burdekin,' Mr Hines said. The bureau issued a major flood warning on Monday morning for the Bulloo River in Queensland's southwest. Mr Hines said moderate flood warnings were also in place for the Barcoo River, Georgina River, Eyre Creek, and the Horton River, south of Townsville in the northeast. 'Minor flood warnings as well as flood watches are in place for many, many other rivers throughout Queensland, with new or renewed river rises expected due to the upcoming rainfall,' he said. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected to continue into the weekend before easing to showers early next week. 'Between now and then, parts of inland Queensland could see in excess of 300mm of rain which is extremely high for areas which typically run quite dry,' Mr Hines said. The public are encouraged to stay up to date on weather and flood warnings and heavy rain information on the Bureau of Meteorology's website or the bureau's weather app.
