Entire government public service departments need to be axed to improve government efficiencies and cut red tape, according to Strike Energy boss Neville Power.
Power, who previously headed Fortescue, was speaking at a forum in Mt Isa where the council has released a roadmap to diversify its economy and survive major job losses stemming from the closure of the town’s copper mine later this year.
“Mount Isa is at a critical point,’’ he said.
But Power said a Canberra bubble and a nanny state attitude had developed and bogged down government approvals of projects.
He said the growth in employment in Australia was largely due to increasing public service numbers and had not provided improved timelines project approvals.
“We see project timelines that are so slow and tortuous that they are not going to be able to fill the gap,’’ Power said.
He said there was little difference in the outcomes of approvals that take three months or three years.
Power said Mount Isa was not a struggling Outback town, but one with a record of innovation and success, but business as usual following the expected job losses of up to 1200 later this year was not an option.
He said it was refreshing to see the leadership from the Mount Isa Council.
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Also speaking at the forum, Mount Isa Council chief executive Tim Rose said the regions were losing their political influence as population in cities like Mt Isa declined and electorates in the south-east increased in number.
“Yet the wealth creation is based in the regions,’’ he said.
The council has forecasts showing the population of Mt Isa could fall to about 13,000 from its current 18,000.
Its report sets out 28 projects to diversify its economy.
