Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has condemned BHP Group Ltd (LSE:BHP, ASX:BHP)’s decision to close its Mackay training centre, labelling the move “un-Australian” and urging the company to continue investing in the state’s youth.
The mining giant announced on Wednesday it would cut 750 jobs across its Queensland operations, reigniting pressure on the Crisafulli government to reconsider the coal royalty regime introduced by the former Labor government.
Bleijie, however, reiterated that the government would not alter the tax. Speaking in Brisbane, he stressed that corporate restructuring decisions were the responsibility of companies, not the state.
“We have an election commitment not to adjust the royalty regime, and we’ve stuck by the election commitment,” Bleijie said.
Despite this, the deputy premier expressed concern over the potential closure of the Mackay training academy, which provides pathways into the resources sector through traineeships and apprenticeships.
“I think that is un-Australian,” Bleijie said. “I think they should keep investing. They have made billions of dollars from the resources owned by Queensland taxpayers and Queenslanders, and they should keep investing in the future of young people who want a job in a mine or the resource sector.”
The Mackay centre currently supports more than 100 trainees.