GFG Alliance

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier sought any advice from GFG Alliance about whether they are paying their contractors and, if so, what was that advice? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: It was reported in The Australian last week that:

South Australian MP Eddie Hughes has slammed GFG Alliance boss Sanjeev Gupta for shelling out $12.5m to buy a harbourside Sydney apartment…while reportedly not paying contractors for the Whyalla steelworks on time.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:22): Yes is the answer to that question. We received that advice through the Steel Task Force, which has the capacity to actively monitor those who are creditors of GFG. GFG has been, in some instances, not making various payments that are due to various creditors on time, but there are plenty of instances where they have been paying them on time as well. We actively monitor that situation.

There have been concerns over a considerable period that seem to come and go, improve and get worse in respect of GFG's on-time performance in terms of their payments, but that is something we actively monitor and, yes, we did receive that advice—in fact, an update on that advice as recently as last week.

I should note that through our Upper Spencer Gulf cabinet committee, a purpose-established cabinet committee to realise the long-term transition that needs to occur in the Upper Spencer Gulf, the Steel Task Force has been appearing and also providing advice on a frequent basis as we actively monitor this situation very closely indeed.