COOBER PEDY DISTRICT COUNCIL

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:08): Is the payment of the $2 million dependent on the council signing the agreement?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Northern Suburbs) (15:08): My understanding is that the two are intertwined, and—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: —without the signing of the agreement, council will not get the certainty that it requires, and—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: —no—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: —member for MacKillop, it may find itself in a similar situation several years out. It wants the certainty of the agreement. It is very much interlocked, and I believe that the agreement will be signed and the moneys will be paid across.