GM HOLDEN

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:43): In light of the imminent discussions and the answer, Premier, can you indicate how you are going to ensure the terms of the new agreement are enforced, in the renegotiations which you say you are commencing this Friday, to ensure that they are actually implemented? In particular, will you be seeking or acceding to a confidentiality clause in the new deal?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am not going to accept her invitation to talk about our negotiating stance with General Motors, except to say in general terms that we will be seeking, first, to focus on the 400 workers who are about to lose their jobs, and secondly, to re-assert some of the important commitments that were contained in the original agreement that we reached with General Motors.

As to any of the adjustments, to the extent that there are any, and how they will be enforced and what elements will become confidential, we will really have to await the outcome of the actual agreement. I do not know what the nature of the agreement will be and therefore I do not know what claims General Motors might make about elements of it being confidential. On an important matter, I wish the Minister for Finance happy birthday.