A year on from the North West Minerals Province Taskforce inquiry, the state government is yet to release its timetable of action on its recommendations and won’t do so until mid year at the earliest.
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Answering a question from Mount Isa MP Robbie Katter on the subject, treasurer Curtis Pitt told parliament they would release a response to the task force as a part of the budget.
“There are actions that we have already taken under our Jobs and Regional Growth Fund,” Mr Pitt said.
“For example, shoring up the copper smelter at Mount Isa Mines, which is a $15 million co-investment with Glencore, has been a significant outcome.”
However Mr Katter said investment in the region was at risk due to the delay.
“It has been over a year after the ALP Government made a commitment to the Taskforce inquiry, and we need to know if the Government intends on implementing any of the recommendations, or if this was just a big time wasting exercise,” Mr Katter said.
Shoring up the copper smelter at Mount Isa Mines...has been a significant outcome
- Curtis Pitt
“The wider community and businesses should be given some sort of picture of where the region is headed.”
Mr Katter said the taskforce identified a number of opportunities which needed to be actioned.
“I am yet to see this report and will keep on the government for action on this matter,” he said.
“Energy supply, in particular, gas, is a major driver of production costs and one of the critical elements of ensuring the long-term future of the area. The major parties have ignored the risks in the gas market from LNG export projects for years.”
Mr Pitt said the government was committed to supporting the north-west.
“Of course, we are looking at what we can do—and again that goes to the Minister for State Development, who also has responsibility for mines—to look at areas around supporting additional exploration,” he said.
“I welcome the investment that we have seen with the Altona copper-gold project near Cloncurry. It is still subjected to the FIRB, but we expect that it will proceed.”
“That would be a great thing, because we expect around 300 jobs to be generated during construction and around 280 ongoing production jobs”
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
