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550 workers wait for news on Queensland Nickel refinery

Friday, 11 Mar 2016 10:33:02

Queensland Nickel is back in the hands of Clive Palmer under a new company, Queensland Nickel Sales. (AAP)

The Queensland Environment Department has granted the environmental licence needed for Clive Palmer's Townsville nickel refinery to operate again.

The move paves the way for Mr Palmer's new Queensland Nickel Sales (QNS) company to employ 550 refinery workers who were told they would be out of a job at the close of business today.

However, the facility also needs a new Major Hazards licence to be approved by the Workplace Health and Safety regulator.

In a statement issued just before the transfer, QNS director Clive Mensink said the company would "write to staff to ascertain their willingness to be employed in the refinery operation".

"I would anticipate any offer of future employment would be on the same terms and conditions previously held," he said.

QNS took over as manager of the troubled refinery, near Townsville, on Monday, after former manager Queensland Nickel, another of Mr Palmer's businesses, went into voluntary administration.

The Queensland Government said QNS only applied to take over the Environmental Authority (EA) on Wednesday, with Queensland Nickel administrators FTI Consulting endorsing its transfer yesterday.

Environment Minister Steven Miles said the department approved the transfer of the EA today at 11:30am.

"I asked the department to expedite the application to have the EA formerly held by the refinery's administrators transferred to Queensland Nickel Sales so there were no environmental impediments to the plant's continuing operation," Dr Miles said.

"I trust Mr Palmer now does the right thing by his workers and ensures their employment is as protected as it can be in the circumstances."

More to come.

AustraliaPlus


 

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