Ministerial Statement

Whyalla Cabinet Meeting

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Whyalla has been an industrial powerhouse for generations, making the steel used to build our houses, our infrastructure and our industry while creating jobs, and we want to see this continue. The steelworks are an important part of Whyalla, with a history of steelmaking dating back more than 100 years. The entire cabinet will be travelling to Whyalla on Monday 21 October to hold a cabinet meeting and to meet with key businesses and community stakeholders.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Unley, if I hear one more peep out of you, you will be gone before the questions start. This is a very important statement for all of South Australia, and the Premier will be heard in silence.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: We know the steel industry around Australia is responding to increasingly slender margins and increased price competition from China and other steelmaking countries. South Australia and GFG are not immune to these global market pressures. We welcome GFG's recent statements that they are continuing with their plans to 'shape a stronger and more efficient plant that will last for years to come' and that Whyalla remains Mr Gupta's highest priority. However, we continue to monitor closely the situation at hand.

The South Australian government will continue to work with GFG, which includes a meeting this afternoon with Mr Gupta, because South Australia and, indeed, the nation have an interest in ensuring a long-term future for the creation of structural steel. We will also continue to stand by the Whyalla community to ensure that steelmaking remains a major contributor to jobs and economic prosperity in South Australia.

South Australia is the birthplace of the nation's steel industry. As a nation that has a vast abundance of iron ore, we have to ensure that we have a sustainable steelmaking capacity within this country. We simply cannot be the largest iron ore producer in the world and not manufacture our own steel. We are abundant with magnetite resources and renewable energy. South Australia, and in particular the Upper Spencer Gulf, is well placed to become a global green iron powerhouse.

My government stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Whyalla. We remain committed to delivering on opportunities in the Upper Spencer Gulf that will deliver more jobs and more economic activity for decades to come. I look forward to being on the ground in Whyalla, with the entirety of my cabinet, and further updating the house with more information as we continue to unlock the full potential of Whyalla and the Upper Spencer Gulf.