Leigh Creek

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:36): My question is for the Premier. When will Dr Lomax-Smith report her recommendations coming from the Leigh Creek request for information process? How much will Dr Lomax-Smith be paid for this work and for how many hours?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:37): I thank the honourable member for his question. I have had the opportunity to travel—actually during my annual leave, but I took the opportunity to visit Leigh Creek and a range of the surrounding communities a few weeks ago. What became—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: No, I didn't pop into Pirie, although it does have fond memories. I did pop into the Prairie Hotel, which I must say produces the best kangaroo feed you can get anywhere I have experienced. Just a little tip, if you are travelling.

I did have the opportunity to also meet with the member for Stuart. I think he has the view, and I share it, that there is a critical window of opportunity for the future of Leigh Creek. People are making their minds up now about whether they stay or go. Other people who have recently left because they have retired are making their minds up about shifting back. It is partly, if you like, the window of opportunity which has led the government to make the decision to separate out Leigh Creek and make it a discrete, very quick project to see if we can describe a future for it, because it is on a tipping point, I think.

You cannot travel to that area and not be staggered by the physical beauty, but also by some of the internationally recognised tourist icons there. We have 560-million-year-old Ediacaran fossils which, shamefully, are not given the promotion or protection they deserve. I think we need to, as a state, realise that we are sitting on an international tourism icon of extraordinary significance. Leigh Creek has an airport the member for Finniss would die for. It is a fantastic airport.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right, he doesn't want an airport. He doesn't want people to visit—that's right, I forgot. Leigh Creek has a great airport and it is a hub and quite closely connected. I found out to my surprise—I should have known this—that there is a sealed road all the way to Blinman now, so it does actually have some great infrastructure. Leigh Creek has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an amazing set of tennis courts, resort-style accommodation, leafy tree-lined streets and the Aroona Dam, as I mentioned. So, we do need to get cracking on this. I expect it to be a relatively short timeline.

Ms Chapman: How much?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I don't know what we have agreed to pay her, but I will come back with an answer on that. The minister is responsible for that; I will get him to bring back an answer—the minister in the upper house, the Hon. Kyam Maher. What was your third question? Money, time line—

Mr Marshall: When does she report and how many hours is she going to work.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: How many hours? I don't know. I will get the answer back on those three questions.

Mr Marshall: It's good that you said, 'I don't know what—

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, I knew a bit about it.

The SPEAKER: The member for Stuart.