Issues - Gladstone Smelter
Major industrial development at the Central Queensland port of Gladstone commenced in the early 1960's, and the government decided to construct the State's biggest power station close to the Comalco alumina refinery. Cabinet agreed on 22nd February to send an engineer to Japan for the purpose of inspecting the Fuji industrial works where the turbines for the Gladstone power station were to be built134. The new station was expected to be in operation by 1975. The Siemens Corporation of Germany had been awarded the contract worth $19.2 million but was unable to undertake the job due to heavy orders. By 1972, the Comalco mine at Weipa was claimed to be the biggest single bauxite mining operation in the world135.
On 23rd May Cabinet approved, in principle, the augmentation of Gladstone's water supply and improvements to the railway facilities at the Gladstone power station136. Total cost of the new dam and water supply works was expected to be $15 million, and another $1 million was required for the railway expansion. Cabinet approved the Agreement with Comalco for power supply to the smelter on 6th June, with the submission noting that cost and tariff details were 'strictly confidential'137. The Agreement was, as Cabinet noted, a 'lengthy and complicated document'. In October Comalco shut down the alumina refinery project, claiming 'too many strikes' as the reason: the Premier described the strike action as 'industrial lawlessness'138. The entire workforce of 1,200 men was dismissed and work did not recommence until one month later.