Statement - Labor’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ being tested
The Hon Alex Hawke MP
Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation
Senator Susan McDonald
Shadow Minister for Resources
Shadow Minister for Northern Australia
Phillip Thompson OAM, MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence
Shadow Assistant Minister for the NDIS
Federal Member for Herbert
4 July 2025
Labor’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ being tested
Reports that Glencore’s Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery are on the cusp of closure should jolt the Albanese Labor Government into action.
Both facilities support thousands of local jobs and are part of the lifeblood of the Queensland economy.
These are incredibly tough and anxious times for the Mount Isa and Townsville communities.
As one of five of Australia’s formally designated strategic minerals, copper is a vital national asset that is integral to our sovereign capability and economic future.
The Prime Minister and Minister for Industry and Innovation Senator Tim Ayres have invoked Labor’s so-called ‘Future Made in Australia’ agenda when discussing the future of Mount Isa and Townsville, but it remains to be seen whether the billions of dollars funnelled into Labor’s industrial policies will be leveraged to support these facilities.
By contrast, Resources Minister Madeline King is already waving the white flag: she is reported today to have said that the “government can’t necessarily intervene” to save processing facilities.
Tim Ayres and Madeline King need to get on the same page.
Other facilities have received significant funding interventions from the Albanese Labor Government, most recently Whyalla Steelworks.
Nyrstar Australia’s lead smelter in South Australia and zinc refinery in Tasmania are similarly facing significant financial pressures.
Industry is under siege from the Labor's failure to address crippling energy costs, harming productivity and competitiveness.
Discussions between Glencore and the Queensland and Australian Governments should proceed and certainty provided to affected communities as soon as possible.
ENDS
Media contacts
Hawke - William Spence - 0438 206 222
McDonald - (07) 4771 3066
Thompson - (07) 4725 2066
Background
Comments from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about 'Labor’s Future Made in Australia' agenda
“And we are investing in our economic sovereignty, our capacity to make more things here, with our plan for a Future Made in Australia.” - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 10 June 2025.
“You've heard me speak a lot over the last three years about a Future Made in Australia. We need to be more resilient as an economy. We need to produce essential items and one of those is of course newsprint, which is why not just the survival of this plant but the thriving of this plant as it transitions, which is what we're announcing today will be about, is so important. This plan supports directly 310 local jobs, but there are many other jobs including the jobs of some of the people in our media contingent here who are dependent upon this plant continuing to operate, which is why it is so important. This also of course shores up manufacturing here and forestry supply chains. This is what our Future Made in Australia is all about.” - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 14 April 2025.
“And this is what we want to see. I want a Future Made in Australia and I want more jobs created in value adding right here in Queensland and right throughout Australia. We are going to make Australian steel and aluminium the best in the world.” - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 18 March 2025.
“All of these measures helping people, at the same time as we're looking to the future, with our Future Made in Australia plan, making sure we manufacture more things here.” - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 26 March 2025.
“The Albanese Labor Government will invest in a Future Made in Australia plan to bring new jobs and opportunities to communities in every part of our country. Making our future here in Australia is about making the most of our nation’s potential and making sure everyone shares in the benefits.” - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 14 May 2024.
“Throughout the election campaign I made it very clear I want to see a future made in Australia. I want manufacturing jobs in Australia. I want value-adding here in Australia. Our resources sector has played such an important role for many decades, and we should continue to export our resources.” - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 29 March 2023