“The state government’s position is that it attaches a very high priority to jobs and job security, especially in regional Queensland, and therefore supports the continued operation of the Mount Isa copper smelter,“ he said.

“Labor gave a commitment to this effect during the election campaign, conscious of the jobs that the smelter’s operation supports. The newly-elected state Labor government confirms that commitment.”

Dr Miles said Mount Isa Mines was expected to apply for an extension beyond 2016 to its existing environmental approval relating to air quality standards associated with the smelter’s operation.

“The company has recently lodged an application in relation to the environmental approval required for its proposed new Black Rock open cut pit project, which would provide source material to enable copper smelting operations to continue in Mount Isa to 2020,” he said.

He said the state government will work with the company through the applications “to address any issues involved in granting the necessary approvals.”

State member for Mount Isa Rob Katter said he had spoken to the Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham about extending the life of Mount Isa’s copper smelter beyond 2016.

He was also speaking to Dr Miles on Thursday.

“I have spoken to the new Premier about this issue and have assurances it would be resolved. At this early stage the Labor government has certainly been very receptive and the intention is definitely there. They’ve given us an assurance that they’ll make it happen, so I’m very encouraged at this stage,” Mr Katter said.

He said  all he was asking of the government was to match their regulations with the Mount Isa community’s expectations.

“Emissions have already been significantly reduced by Mount Isa Mines. I can’t remember anyone coming into my office complaining about emissions from the mines, but I do have plenty of people expressing their concerns about the viability of the mines,” he said.

Mr Katter said the issue affected Mount Isa and Townsville and the three new Labor MPs in Townsville wanted Mount Isa’s copper smelter to continue.

“It means jobs for Townsville as well.”

Mr Katter said the original legislation was a matter of “policy gone bad”.

“When the government brought in the new act for mines to comply with, this forces the board of Glencore in Switzerland to find an easier solution – shifting the same ore to China, rather than smelting it here, therefore exporting a thousand skilled Queensland jobs to China.

“So they’d transport concentrate by diesel power at four times the bulk of the smelted product to a much dirtier smelter in China.

‘‘The same emissions are going up into the same earth’s atmosphere, so it’s actually a worse outcome for the environment than modifying the legislation to allow the smelter here to continue.

“We should be trying to increase value-adding and minerals processing in Australia, not getting rid of it. The ratio of jobs created from mineral processing is four to one, so it’s worth holding onto.”

Mr Katter said it was not just a Mount Isa problem.

“If the copper smelter had to close the shock waves will reverberate around Queensland.

“2016 is coming up; these decisions need to be made yesterday.

“I’ve been pushing this issue from the start, and I’ll keep pushing until we get a solution.”