Stand Up for the Reinstatement and Creation of Sustainable Jobs in Townsville and North Queensland

Save our town – Save this HUGE economic down turn.

This issue is above Politics - It’s about people’s lives and the welfare of the people they represent!

We the undersigned residents of North Queensland and Townsville Petition the State Government and Federal Government to provide immediately Grants / Guaranties / Loans to facilitate the reopening of the Nickel Refinery.

Background Statement
We the BUSINESS people and COMMUNITY of North Queensland demand the same consideration as the rest of Australia. For far too long the wealth for Australia has been created in North Queensland. Now we deserve the support of Local State and Federal Government representatives to support the reinstatement or replacement of the 800 plus jobs lost when QNI closed.

Business were dependent upon the income created by the QNI refinery this together loss of the 800 plus flow on effect of an estimated 2000 more jobs has decimated our businesses. More will suffer as the economic downturn flow through the community and many more local jobs will be lost. Cash Flow around Townsville is down $800,000 for EVERY WEEK.

The Federal Government is now calling for creative ideas and job creating businesses under the $ 5 Billion Northern Australian Loan Facility. QNI jobs are already created let’s not lose the jobs we have.

The PAYE tax paid by the QNI workers would have been in the vicinity of $17 million++ dollars per year so the funding will soon be repaid. This refinery is a value added processing plant contributing to the local and Australian economy.

We the people state that it is NOT about politics or Mr Clive Palmer it is about the community and the IMPACT THE CLOSURE OF QUEENSLAND NICKEL HAS HAD ON THE TOWNSVILLE AND NORTH QUEENSLAND COMMUNITY.