A RESCUE package for the North-West's Fossey underground mine and Hellyer processing facility seems unlikely, with the state government saying that the best it can do to help redundant workers and those facing losing their jobs is ``continue diversifying the local economy to include a wide range of industries''.
Twenty-five Mancala employees, who were contracted by Bass Metals to work at the Fossey mine and Hellyer processing facility, were made redundant on Tuesday.
The future of the 100-odd remaining jobs remains uncertain as Bass Metals struggles through its financial difficulties.
The company's managing director, Mike Rosenstreich, said it would be known in April or May whether the entire operation would have to shut down.
Devonport's John White, 39, was due to start a block of night shifts operating machines at the mine on Thursday but received a phone call on Tuesday morning and was told that he had been made redundant.
``I was thinking, forestry got government help, others have had government help, so why hasn't Bass Metals been to the government? There's potentially a hundred and something jobs going and if that's the case, why aren't we getting any help?''
Parliamentary secretary for the North-West economy Brenton Best said the state government was supporting mining investment in Tasmania to attract new mines and jobs.
``Obviously governments have very little control over global market forces like fluctuating metal prices and changing currency values, which causes some mining operations and jobs to come and go,'' he said.
``As well as new skilling opportunities, the best thing the government can do to support Mr White and other workers is continue diversifying the local economy to include a wide range of industries.''
Mr White said he was ``in shock'' after losing his job.
``I've got a family here to support. I've got a six-month-old and a daughter who I've just started in grade 7 at a private school, and my partner's got another one who's in grade 8 this year.''
Mr White said he had been told that the remaining 100 or so workers were expected to lose their jobs in mid-April. ``We've been told the whole thing will shut,'' he said.
Mr Rosenstreich did not rule that out, but said it was too early to speculate on whether the operation would be viable come April.
``I don't know about mid-April but if we're not able to move from stage one to stage two, then we would look at aborting our operations,'' he said.
Part one of a two-stage plan involved accelerating the mining process and seeking financial approvals.
``Unfortunately, because of that, we've had to shed some jobs,'' Mr Rosenstreich said.
At the end of this month if the company received its approvals, operations would continue into April or May.
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