LNP Missing In Action As Collinsville Fights For Its Life

Media Release.

Multi-national mining corporation Glencore Xstrata’s greed is threatening to turn Collinsville into a ghost town, says Shadow Natural Resources and Mines Minister Jo-Ann Miller.

“Yesterday in the Queensland Parliament I raised the plight of the proud mining community of Collinsville and the despicable attitude of Glencore Xstrata towards the 400 workers it made redundant at the end of August,” Mrs Miller said.

“Collinsville Coal Mine was not closed because there is no coal left or because it is unprofitable. It was closed because the owners want to re-open it with a new workforce on lower wages and reduced conditions.”

“It’s an isolated town that was founded on coal mining and the loss of income is hurting the population and killing its businesses."

“The pain is made worse by the refusal of the company to consider re-employing skilled and experienced workers who live in the town."

“The population fears that their town will wither and die while, at the same time, fly-in fly-out workers will be housed in dongas just a stone’s throw away once Glencore Xstrata re-opens the mine."

“It is shocking that the LNP MP for Burdekin, Rosemary Menkens, elected to represent the people of Collinsville, is missing in action on this issue."

“She was invited but could not be bothered to attend the annual memorial service last Sunday which honoured the 26 miners from that community killed at work since 1928."

“I am appalled that the local MP evidently does not care that these people are fighting for the very existence of their proud community. Her silence is deafening."

“What makes this dereliction of duty even worse is that, according to her biographical entry on the Queensland Parliament website, Mrs Menkens was born in Collinsville in 1946."

“It is her own community that she has turned her back on and that is something I just can’t understand."

“Glencore Xstrata’s attitude belongs in the last century and if it succeeds in its aims at Collinsville it will set a precedent for a return to the dark ages for Queensland’s mineworkers."

“The Newman Government’s evident contempt for workers guarantees that it will do nothing to support the Collinsville miners or any workers treated in such an appalling manner by wealthy international corporations,” she said.