General News
16 July, 2025
Australia must 'control' smelter, says KAP leader
Robbie Katter doesn't want a foreign company controlling Mount Isa's copper smelter.
Mount Isa’s copper smelter is a test case for Australia, says Robbie Katter, who says the nation can’t afford to give China control of the world’s critical minerals processing.
“The Mount Isa Copper Smelter must not close. We cannot let China win and lose our ability to produce strategic and critical minerals,” the Member for Traeger said.
“We know that Glencore don’t want to run the smelter, so it’s high time for Australia to relieve them of what they see as a liability, and put in a willing operator.
“The government has been given a viable proposal, which would create a shared user entity – in the interest of Australians, not a Swiss boardroom, which I am confident is amenable to Glencore – our leaders simply need to act in Australia’s interest and force Glencore to the table.”
The MP said it “would amount to criminal levels of stupidity” to provide Glencore with a $2 billion support package.
“There must be an emphasis that any assistance is only provided under a shared ownership model,” Mr Katter said.
“The options available to the government range from passively watching the collapse, through to calling in the asset and transferring it to another willing operator.
“Mount Isa’s smelter must be returned to Australian control.”