Australian company buys Phosphate Hill just for a change: Robbie Katter

North West Queensland will be letting out a sigh of relief at the news that Phosphate Hill has successfully being handed over to another Australian company and will continue its critical operations, Leader of the KAP and State Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has said.

Queensland based Ryowa (a wholly owned subsidiary of Mayfair) has completed the purchase of the Phosphate Hill mine and fertiliser operation, 170km South of Mount Isa, from Dyno Nobel.

“Phosphate Hill is more than a mine and a fertiliser plant – it’s an intrinsic link in the chain that is the powerhouse of the North West, and indeed the whole of the state,” Mr Katter said.

“Without Phosphate Hill, the rail line between Mount Isa and Townsville loses nearly 50% of its usage.  Without Phosphate Hill, the copper smelter in Mount Isa becomes really wobbly, and more than 17,000 jobs from Mount Isa to Townsville are under threat.

“It’s been really pleasing to see two willing Australian commercial parties working hard to keep the operation going and producing Australian fertiliser.

“It’s also been appreciated that both Federal and State governments have done what’s needed to get the deal done,” the Member for Traeger said. 

Phosphate Hill is Australia’s last remaining DAP and MAP fertiliser manufacturing facility, supplying approximately 25% of Australian agriculture’s demand. 

“All too often we’re seeing our ability to make stuff here, our sovereignty, torn down and shipped overseas where ‘it’s cheaper’, so it’s good to see Phosphate Hill bucking that trend,” the KAP leader said. 

“The KAP continue to push against the ideological zealotry that has infected decision makers; that everything must adhere to the ‘free market principles’, because so long as bureaucrats and the major parties push this stuff, Australia’s sovereign capacity to make anything and control our destiny will continue to sail overseas.

“A Gas Reservation Policy that caps gas prices would be a great start.  Keeping Queensland gas in Queensland, for Queensland manufacturing and Queensland jobs.

“Instead, the bean counters think it’s a great idea for domestic users to pay the world market price, which is up to three times as much as their competitors pay – it’s just madness,” the KAP leader said.