04 JULY 2011www.abc.net.au/
Mayor pushes for end to bauxite royalties
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
The Government is conducting an international tender for development rights for bauxite in Aurukun, in Cape York, after Chalco won the original tender but withdrew last year due to the global financial crisis.
Chalco had suggested Bowen, in the state's north, would be the most suitable place for the refinery.
Mayor Mike Brunker says the Government needs to find new ways to encourage investment in the industry.
"I'd hate another company to come along, go through all the same process and then go to Government and say, 'yes well we can't do it here, it's not viable'," he said.
"So I've always just thought maybe discounting the front end, which is the low-grade bauxite, to make sure that we do get a refinery in Queensland and those jobs are here."
Councillor Brunker says reducing royalties on bauxite could make the industry more attractive to investors.
"The major benefit is to make sure the jobs stay in Queensland, so to give some sort of discount on the resource so it is refined here may be a different way of looking at it," he said.
"My biggest fear is that another company's going to come along, do the same result and say, 'well it can't be done'."
Chalco had suggested Bowen, in the state's north, would be the most suitable place for the refinery.
Mayor Mike Brunker says the Government needs to find new ways to encourage investment in the industry.
"I'd hate another company to come along, go through all the same process and then go to Government and say, 'yes well we can't do it here, it's not viable'," he said.
"So I've always just thought maybe discounting the front end, which is the low-grade bauxite, to make sure that we do get a refinery in Queensland and those jobs are here."
Councillor Brunker says reducing royalties on bauxite could make the industry more attractive to investors.
"The major benefit is to make sure the jobs stay in Queensland, so to give some sort of discount on the resource so it is refined here may be a different way of looking at it," he said.
"My biggest fear is that another company's going to come along, do the same result and say, 'well it can't be done'."
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