One of the nation’s few copper smelting facilities is at risk of closure as global processing costs drop.

Mount Isa, in Queensland’s north-west, is situated on top of the deepest copper mine in the country which ceased operations just last week.

But now, the town is facing an existential threat as mining giant Glencore could shut down the smelting facilities if there isn’t further government support.

Image: Image: Wikimedia Commons/ Geomartin – CC BY 3.0

Produced By: Noah Secomb

Featured In Story: Peta Macrae – Mayor, Mt Isa City Council

First aired on The Wire, Monday 4 August 2025