It’s hard to think of what Australia’s famous copper mining town, Mount Isa, would look like if the entire operation came crashing down.

With the mine now closed, the future of the smelter is shrouded in doubt as owner Glencore demands the government pay billions to help keep it open.

It’s confusing and uncertain times for workers who wonder why, in a copper boom, the country doesn’t embrace the biggest asset in our own backyard. Some workers have even deemed the move a “death nail” to the region.

Right now, there’s a huge global thirst for copper. It’s in electric cars, solar cells, and wiring. Prices are high and getting higher.

So, you can understand why people in Mount Isa are frustrated they have gone from boom to bust. As the US and China battle over trade and capitalise on booming copper price, those at the coal face want Australia to compete.