A positive outcome is still possible at Xstrata’s McArthur River Mine, but a decision from the Federal Government needs to come as soon as possible, Federal Shadow Minister for climate change, environment and water Greg Hunt told MINING DAILY.
“I absolutely believe it is possible to achieve a positive outcome at the mine, particularly for the workers there,” he said.
“But it needs (Federal Environment Minister) Peter Garrett to make a decision about whether to allow even limited work to continue at the site.”
Work at McArthur River has been suspended since December 17, 2008 after a Federal Court decision upholding an earlier ruling that approval for an open cut development was invalid.
By delaying his decision Garrett is costing the jobs of dozens of mine workers, Hunt said.
“Mr. Garrett’s inaction is set to see 76 Australian workers lose their jobs on Australia Day,” he said.
“These are workers who want to keep working.”
According to Hunt, the mine has customers and resources ready to be developed.
“It is a mine with 296,000 tonnes of ore that has already been quarried, which is sitting in the bottom of the existing pit, for which there are millers, drivers and buyers,” he said.
“There are existing international contracts.”
Garrett needs to make his decision and not add to the pressures currently facing many Australian mining workers, Hunt said.
“At a time when more and more Australians are facing the gloom of job uncertainty, it would be wrong for Government inaction on their part to make this gloom even darker,” he said.
“It would be absurd to abandon Australian workers and their jobs.”