Media Release - LABOR CONTINUES TO DRAG ITS FEET ON MOUNT ISA AND TOWNSVILLE INDUSTRY SUPPORT
The Hon Alex Hawke
Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation
Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Senator Susan McDonald
Shadow Minister for Resources
Shadow Minister for Northern Australia
Senator for Queensland
Andrew Willcox
Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability
MEDIA RELEASE
LABOR CONTINUES TO DRAG ITS FEET ON MOUNT ISA AND TOWNSVILLE INDUSTRY SUPPORT
The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to stoke uncertainty over the future of the vital Mount Isa smelter and Townsville refinery in Queensland.
On the ABC today, Minister for Resources Madeline King maintained that the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments were working “hand in glove” to support the struggling facilities, while simultaneously recognising "uncertainty" in the Queensland community over their fate.
Minister King’s comments come more than a month after the Queensland Government tabled its offer to Glencore and pleaded with Labor to “come to the table” and make its offer.
Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, Alex Hawke, said the Albanese Labor Government’s sloth-like approach was not good enough.
“The Queensland Government tabled their offer to Glencore in July, so Queenslanders are rightly asking when federal Labor is finally going to act,” Mr Hawke said.
“Every day that goes by, is a day of unnecessary anxiety for the workers and families of Mount Isa and Townsville.
“Mount Isa and Townsville facilities are just two of many such operations across Australia which are being battered by Labor’s soaring energy prices, higher taxes and rigid regulations.
“Retrofitting the National Reconstruction Fund to deliver corporate bailout packages should raise red flags, as it was only in June that the Auditor-General found the $15 billion fund had no finalised investment or financial strategy.”
Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, said that the 'uncertainty' surrounding the Mt Isa Smelter was being solely stoked by federal Labor.
"This week both the Resources Minister and the Industry Minister – Cabinet decision makers – have been in Queensland, yet North Queenslanders finish the week with nothing to show from it,” Senator McDonald said.
"The Resources Minister's concerns with the uncertainty surrounding the Mt Isa community does nothing to put food on the table or calm the fears of this community.
"North Queenslanders are continually overlooked by this southern-facing Labor Government, and these most recent statements yet again proves that Mt Isa is nothing but a mark on the map for the Albanese Labor Government."
Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability, Andrew Willcox, said workers and their families deserve certainty.
“The slow response from the Albanese Labor Government has put unnecessary strain and distress on my constituents of Dawson, who are already dealing with a highly stressful situation,” Mr Willcox said.
“The lack of clarity surrounding the future of the Mount Isa smelter has created angst for workers and families. Yet again, it feels like northern Australians are being left behind by Labor.
“Copper smelting and refining is critical to Australia’s national interests. Copper is essential for our defence capabilities, electrification and the broader construction industry. I strongly urge the Government to place a higher priority on this issue.”
In July, Labor voted against a Coalition Senate motion to establish a parliamentary inquiry into the current and future health of Australia’s metals manufacturing sector.
Earlier this month, Minister Ayres made the embarrassing concession that the NRF remained without a finalised impact framework.
ENDS