The Queensland Environment Department has granted the environmental licence needed to resume operations at Clive Palmer's Queensland Nickel Refinery.  This comes a day after more than 500 workers were told their jobs were disappearing as of 5:00 PM today (Friday, 11 March). 

"I asked the department to expedite the application to have the EA formerly held by the refinery's administrators transferred to Queensland Nickel Sales (QNS) so there were no environmental impediments to the plant's continuing operation," said Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles as quoted by the ABC.  "I trust Mr. Palmer now does the right thing by his workers and ensures their employment is as protected as it can be in the circumstances."

The facility in Yabulu, north of Townsville, also needs a new Major Hazards licence to be approved by the Workplace Health and Safety regulator before Palmer's Queensland Nickel Sales (QNS) company can employ the 550 refinery workers.  QNS director Clive Mensink said any offers to the 550 workers would probably "be on the same terms and conditions previously held".