The Chinalco deal to increase its stake in Rio Tinto will have ramifications for all Australians. Today I inspected the Abbot Point Coal terminal and am meeting with stakeholders and residents who are keen for another Chinese company, Chalco, to build an alumina refinery at Bowen.

This would generate jobs and millions of dollars for the local economy. If the Chinalco deal goes ahead, this facility could be lost from Bowen, as Melissa Maddison, reports at ABC Online - The Nationals Senate leader says he is concerned about how a North Queensland town will be affected if Chinese resources company Chinalco is allowed to take over mining giant Rio Tinto.

Another Chinese company, Chalco, had planned to build an alumina refinery at Bowen, but that may be scrapped in favour of Gladstone if the Rio takeover deal is approved.

Senator Barnaby Joyce is meeting with Bowen residents and stakeholders today, and says if the Bowen plant is scrapped, it will have a significant impact.

"That just starts to show and focus in on the issues of how big this Rio-Chinalco thing is and how it really affects people and how it could be the mechanism for the loss of jobs in Bowen," he said.

"If this is the way it's going to work in the future, this is yet another reason for us to be highly suspicious of China Inc."

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