House of Assembly: Wednesday, December 01, 2021

Contents

Minister for Environment and Water

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:06): My question is again to the Minister for Environment and Water. Did the minister consider selling his shares in South32 after it was found guilty and fined for allowing coal-polluted sludge to spill into waterways in New South Wales this year? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Dr CLOSE: According to an ABC news report on—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hammond is called to order.

Dr CLOSE: —on 1 April 2021 South32's Dendrobium coalmine was fined $15,000 for pumping sludge into Mount Kembla creek.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:06): It is very disappointing. I was certainly aware of that. I wasn't going to divest myself of those shares at this point in time. As I said, I would not be expanding that or recommending to anyone that they invest in that organisation. But that is a small share portfolio I have had for many years, and really it's something that I will probably hold onto for many years to come one way or the other.