Queensland Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last says former Senex boss Ian Davies is bringing a valuable skillset to the table in talks around the future of the Mount Isa copper smelter.
The LNP Government has copped criticism over paying Mr Davies $187,500 for up to 25 days’ work for his advice in the resources field.
Main image: Queensland Resources Minister Dale Last
Mr Last said Mr Davies was ‘absolutely’ at the table in negotiations between the State and smelter owner Glencore.
“We want the best of the best around the negotiating table. Ian Davies was contracted by the department to bring that skillset to the negotiating table,” he said when questioned on what Mr Davies contributed.
Mr Last attended the Minerals and Metals Processing Roundtable in Sydney including talks with Federal Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres.
He said it had differed from many summits he had attended over the years in that not only were the challenges and the issues put on the table, but there was also a lot of discussion around solutions and a real commitment to work collaboratively – which he described as refreshing.
Mr Last said the Federal Government was putting together a package to present to Glencore.
“I had a very fruitful discussion with the Minister yesterday along those lines and we continue to negotiate to find us an outcome, an outcome that will secure the future of this community,” he said.
Glencore chief executive Gary Nagle told the Australian Financial Review last week that he was willing to sell a stake in the Mount Isa copper smelter to federal and state governments if that was the best way to secure its future.
When questioned on that issue, Mr Last said all options were on the table when it came to finding a solution for the smelter.
“This is not just simply writing out a cheque, and we’ve said from day one we weren’t going to write out a blank cheque in this case, and certainly we’re looking at all options about how we can secure the future of this smelter,” Mr Last said.
“And importantly for me this is not just securing the smelter for the next couple of years. I want to secure this smelter for the next ten to 15 to 20 years.
“It’s about longevity. And we want to give this community that certainty and that stability going forward, that this smelter is going to continue operation and provide employment so that if families are considering moving here, they can do so with the confidence that this smelter is going to continue operation and we’re not going to be in a similar situation in three or four years’ time.”
Mount Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said while the situation was complex and would take time to resolve, she was confident the State and Federal governments were working well together to get the job done.
She said the council wanted to see a long-term solution.
“We want a solution to do with gas, power – all of those things that Glencore is finding so expensive, but so is every other industry in our area,” she said.