General News
16 April, 2025
Katter makes the call to support copper smelter
The veteran MP spoke with the chiefs of staff for Albanese and Dutton on Monday afternoon.
Bob Katter held discussions with the offices of the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader on Monday, calling for federal support to save the Mount Isa copper smelter.
However, the incumbent MP said he added an important caveat to the conversations.
Mr Katter said taxpayer money given to Glencore should be on the condition that the state or federal governments receive an ownership share in the smelter.
He said he was also open to ownership being shared with other local miners.
The call echoed statements made by Traeger MP Robbie Katter last week.
While remaining coy about the exact details of the conversations, Mr Katter said he had received favourable responses.
The veteran politician, who may hold the balance of power after the election, said he had a long-standing practice to not speak directly with the Prime Minister or the Opposition Leader during election campaigns to ensure he remained on amiable terms with each politician.
“It is like walking through a minefield – if you talk to them directly during an election campaign, you could have a bust up with them on the phone and then it makes it tough negotiating with them after the election,” he explained.
“But in a few weeks they might be negotiating with me.
“I am confident we will get the money and we will make sure the processing plant stays open.
“There will be blood everywhere if it doesn’t happen.”
Mr Katter said he believed the inclusion of government and other miners in the ownership structure of the smelter was the only way to ensure its long-term survival.
“Glencore is going to put the money in their pocket and then in two years they will be saying they are going to close it again,” he said.
“I have very great difficulty in thinking they (Glencore) aren’t just playing games.
“It is a delicate situation, but I want an outcome where the copper smelter stays open permanently.”
Glencore is lobbying state and federal governments for assistance to ensure the smelter will remain open past a planned re-bricking next year.
The miner says increased international competition and declining local supply is jeopardising the viability of the smelter, which is one of only two processing facilities in the nation.