QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator CANAVAN (Queensland) (14:59): Minister, reports this week suggest that the owners of the Mount Isa copper smelter and the Townsville copper refinery have told staff to brace for a pause on production and for potential job losses. The Australian Workers' Union has said: Many Australian smelters face collapse without urgent intervention from state and federal governments.

Will the federal government heed the AWU's warning and intervene to save copper jobs in North Queensland?