Politicians should stop scaremongering and start creating jobs: Ferguson

General Manager of Queensland Nickel Sales, Ian Ferguson, has called on North Queensland politicians to stop scaremongering and start creating employment opportunities for the people who elected them.

Mr Ferguson has strongly criticised the Katter’s Australia Party Member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto, for his damaging and untruthful claims in the media about QNI recruiting.

“The fact of the matter is we are not interviewing at present because the Government is standing in the way of making the refinery operational.

“Claims that positions are not filling because workers are wary are ridiculous and designed only to create fear.

“Politicians like Nick Dametto should be working with us to get the refinery up and running for the benefit of North Queenslanders rather than trying to tear us down,’’ Mr Ferguson said.

“The Queensland Government needs to to take urgent action to allow the nickel refinery access to its berth in Townsville so that steps could be taken to commence operations and restore the North Queensland economy and create thousands of jobs into the future.

“Once we commence the restart of the Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery we will directly approach the 660 registered staff on our books 90% of whom are former employees who are keen to re-join our workforce,’’ Mr Ferguson said.

ENDS