Townsville Enterprise warns that the nation has reached ‘five minutes to midnight’ for keeping a vital copper supply chain intact as it launches a new docu-series.
The five-part series highlights the copper industry’s place in North and North-West Queensland, and the consequences of potentially shuttering key national assets.
It comes as Glencore seeks taxpayer support as it looks to reach a final decision by the end of 2025 on the future of its Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville copper refinery.
Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith said that travelling across the supply chain revealed the interconnectivity between regional communities, critical infrastructure, and global markets.
“This is not just about a single facility or one community. This is about protecting a copper supply chain that underpins 17,000 jobs across the North, stretching from Mount Isa to Townsville and beyond, and safeguarding Australia’s sovereign capabilities,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
“Through this series we had the rare opportunity to access the copper smelter and refinery and speak to workers, councils, and industry leaders.
“The mood is anxious — people are worried that their next shift could be their last. They know what’s at stake.
“Governments must recognise we are five minutes to midnight on keeping this supply chain intact. This isn’t just one facility at risk — it’s a house of cards. Pull out a single asset, and the entire regional economy could collapse around it.”