House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Mining Industry MINING INDUSTRY Ms THOMPSON House of Assembly Reynell MINING INDUSTRY Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Can the minister inform the house of the latest developments in servicing the state's growing mining sector? The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly West Torrens Minister for Manufacturing Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Minister for Small Business MINING INDUSTRY The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:03): I would like to thank the member for Reynell for her keen interest in all things mining, and especially her keen interest in big trucks. Adelaide's Outer Harbor has welcomed the arrival of the second direct shipment of Caterpillar trucks and equipment to supply this state's expanding mining sector. The latest consignment includes five 793F mining truck bodies, a 777G off-highway truck, two 24M graders and an 854K wheel dozer and blade— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —all to be transported to Cavpower's Whyalla facility for pre-assembly and then moved on to Olympic Dam. The rest of the consignment, made up of a further four 793F truck bodies, four 988H wheel loaders, three 777G off-highway trucks and, of course, a 140M motor grader, is ultimately destined for other sites throughout South Australia. Members interjecting: The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, you can't go past those; they're a beautiful model. South Australia's mining sector— The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting: The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Oh, you're awake, are you? Well done. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: South Australia's mining sector has now reached a point where it is big enough to warrant monthly port calls to Outer Harbour by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. These big ships, which regularly carry heavy trucks and other equipment, are creating work here for our stevedores, logistics experts, transport industry and mechanics, before heading to mines in our state's north. The regular arrival of these direct shipments is yet another example of the growth in our state's mining sector, as more mines quite clearly need more trucks. Unlike the Leader of the Opposition and those opposite who seek to talk down the growth in the resources sector— Members interjecting: Mr WILLIAMS House of Assembly Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order. The minister is now entering into debate; I think he has finished his answer. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Thank you; no, he has not finished his answer. Minister, back to the question. The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, I haven't. Madam Speaker— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —this government can see the signs and knows the benefits. The South Australian minerals industry continues to grow across all areas of the industry value chain. According to ABS figures, private new capital expenditure for the mining industry for the March 2012 quarter was $316 million, the highest it has been since December 2008. New capital expenditure is increasing as a result of the construction of new mines in South Australia, not from an increase in exploration. For the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition, I will remind the house of The Advertiser's explanation of the growth in our mining sector: Hillgrove Resources Kanmantoo Copper-Gold mine with $144 million worth of total project capital expenditure. Uranium One's Honeymoon uranium mine with $118 million worth of total project capital expenditure. OZ Minerals Ankata Project with $135 million worth of total project capital expenditure. IMX Resources Cairn Hill iron ore mine with $15 million worth of capital expenditure. These are a few of the 16 major mines given approval to operate under this Labor government. South Australia's mineral production in 2011 reached a record $5.5 billion, increasing from $4 billion in 2010—an increase of 38 per cent. The value of our mineral commodities produced in South Australia has increased significantly from 2010 to 2011. It is clear that South Australia is fostering an ever-expanding resources sector. This government recognises that, with more mines, you need more trucks— Ms Chapman interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and as such a welcome of the second shipment of mining equipment means that we are doing just that.