Some workers’ camps are more equal than others!
It seems the State Labor Government is happy to even dig the foundations for workers’ camps outside Hughenden, Julia Creek and Richmond as part of the CopperString project, while closing workers’ camps for local coal miners like QCoal.
After running a campaign against QCoal and its $30m workers’ camp at the Byerwen coal mine outside of Glenden, the Premier, Treasure and Resources Minister seem to have no such issues for their pet projects.
QCoal Head of Communications Paul Turner said the State Government’s blatant political campaign against the Byerwen mine and its owners to force the Byerwen workforce to live in the nearby Glencore mining camp town of Glenden has been exposed yet again.
“Why are workers camps ok for some, but not others,” Mr Turner said.
“Is it because this is a State Government project, a pet project of the Premier?
“Are the towns of Richmond, Julia Creek and Hughenden less important than Glenden now? Why aren’t these workforces also forced to support the local towns by living in the many empty homes in Hughenden and Richmond?
“Is it only coal mines and coal miners this State Labor Government hates?”
The State Government pushed through legislation in August 2023 with 18 minutes notice and 25 minutes of debate to force QCoal to close the mining camp for its 800 workers at the Byerwen coal mine and force them all to live in Glenden. Nearby mines such as Glencore’s Hail Creek have been allowed to continue to operate its 1000-person mining camp and house no workers in Glenden, despite actually being the current lease holder for the town.
Source: Queensland Government