Nyrstar

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (17:22): My question is again to the Minister for Regional Development. Did you, as the Minister for Regional Development, or the government, have any guarantees that the upgrade would use local employment, and will structural steel for the Nyrstar upgrade be procured within South Australian boundaries?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (17:23): Can you believe the front, Mr Speaker? Can you believe the front? They are actually questioning whether there is an economic benefit for underwriting Nyrstar's investment of over half a billion dollars in a regional community like Port Pirie. Let's work backwards. Let's say there wasn't an underwriting of their investment. What would be happening in Port Pirie today? Mr Speaker, I've got to say: the front of that question is appalling.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: We are having such a good time.

Mr GARDNER: Nearly a minute in and he hasn't gone near the question will locals be employed and where will the structural steel come from.

The SPEAKER: Yes, he has gone near the question. He is beating it over the head with a cricket bat. The Treasurer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I suspect the Liberal Party should get in their cars, drive to Port Pirie, speak to the local workers at the smelting plant and say to them, 'Are you South Australian? Do you live here? Do you shop locally? Do you live in Port Pirie?' They can go to the local deli and the local supermarkets and the local contractors who fund so much and survive off the back of Nyrstar and say to them, 'Do you deserve this investment? Are you local South Australians?' Really, Mr Speaker, half a billion dollar investment! This is why the Liberal Party cannot form a majority in this state, because they are so out of touch with business.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer has finished. The member for Little Para.