A “one-off incentive” has been payed to Glencore, the owners of a copper refinery in Southern Townsville, in order to secure 1000 jobs in the area.
The refinery, which is in the Mundingburra electorate and close to Townsville and Thuringowa, was set to stay open until 2022 following a 2016 deal with the Queensland Government, but recently announced its operations were again under review.
Locals were not given the opportunity to consult or scrutinise the government’s multi-million dollar payment to Glencore, which may have impacts on the results of the upcoming state elections.