Olympic Dam

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining. Will the minister update the house on the recent milestone for mining at the Olympic Dam mine?

The SPEAKER: Minister.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:47): Thank you, Speaker, and thank you—

Mr Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is now on two warnings.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —to the member for Morphett for this question. BHP is one of our greatest corporate citizens in South Australia and perhaps one of the greatest Australian companies ever—an extraordinary company. The Olympic Dam mine, which the member for Morphett asked about, is going to celebrate its 30^th year of operation this year. It was a resource that was found, I am told, reasonably accidentally or with a bit of luck back in 1975. The mine actually started operating in 1988, so of course it has now reached its 30^th year.

It started with BP as a 49 per cent shareholder with Western Mining back in 1988. I remember working with BP Australia back then. Actually, 1989 I think was my first visit to Olympic Dam. But then of course, in 2005, BHP took over that mine and they have gone from strength to strength. Not only are they mining copper, processing copper, selling copper and contributing royalties to our state, but they are employing an enormous number of people. They are the largest employer, employing approximately 3,500 people directly in South Australia, which is a wonderful thing for our state. Members will remember, I think it was yesterday or the day before, me talking about the benefits of the mining industry for employment in South Australia.

I think there are 217 separate South Australian companies that provide services to BHP at Olympic Dam one way or another, which again is a tremendous employment and economic opportunity for us. It is not only the direct employees on the mine but it is the flow-through business. Speaking of flow-through business, the Premier mentioned a new building in the CBD. BHP are embarking upon a brand-new headquarters here in Adelaide. Their commitment to South Australia, not only at Olympic Dam but also to the state as a whole and here in Adelaide, is indisputable.

We are very fortunate to have BHP operating here in our state. They have a strong focus on safety with regard to the environment and with regard to people. They have a very large social and community responsibility with the operation of the Roxby Downs township, which members will know was built at the same time the mine was established and has, in its own right, become an important outback centre in South Australia.

Of course, as well as the 30-year anniversary, this year marks the transition from one asset president to another with the retirement of Jacqui McGill and the taking over of that role by Ms Laura Tyler, who I have not yet met. However, there is an appointment coming up very soon in my diary to meet with her, and I look forward to that. It will be tremendous to meet with her and see how she intends to continue the ongoing growth, particularly with the expansion in the southern mine area. It is also nice to be able to point out that, with Ms Jacqui McGill's retirement, the Premier has been able to second her as one of his six incredibly capable and incredibly prominent Economic Advisory Council members.

Mr Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is on two warnings.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: So her contribution to South Australia continues to grow strong as well.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: The opposition may not care about BHP, may not care about Olympic Dam's celebration, may not care about the contribution that Ms Jacqui McGill continues to make, or that Ms Laura Taylor will start to make, but we do and we appreciate them.