Business
9 April, 2025
Bob wants Gina to buy Phosphate Hill and create 1000 jobs
Bob Katter believes Gina Rinehart is a perfect match to stimulate the region's economy.
Bob Katter wants billionaire Gina Rinehart to purchase the beleaguered Phosphate Hill Mine and Acid Handling Plant.
The Kennedy MP said Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting was currently building a new natural gas division and would be able to overcome the energy supply issues that have long hampered the economic viability of the fertiliser production facility, south of Mount Isa.
Mr Katter, who is running for re-election, said he would target Ms Rinehart as part of a wider campaign to attract gas companies to purchase Phosphate Hill.
He said Phosphate Hill was a “golden opportunity” to expand an underdeveloped asset while contributing to the future wealth of the North West.
“Even though I am in furious election mode at the moment I still want to try to get this going,” he told North West Weekly.
“I will be going to the people who have the gas that can feed this plant, including Gina Rinehart, to point out there is a golden opportunity to buy this facility for virtually nothing, which they can then quickly make it into one of the biggest industrial operations in Australia.”
Mr Katter said the facility should be operating at five times its current output, which if achieved, would provide up to 1000 new jobs.
He said there could be government financial assistance provided to a suitable buyer, but it should come with the condition that its expanded workforce would be locally based.
“If we had 1000 extra workers at the plant, which I believe is what they would need, then they would bring wives and partners and children and it would mean Mount Isa could have an extra 4000 residents,” he said.