Whyalla Steelworks

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:56): My question is again to the Premier. Have any suppliers ceased supply or stopped work at the Whyalla Steelworks today?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:56): Not that I am aware of, but I was getting very concerned. We had been informed that a number of key critical suppliers, especially things like oxygen to the blast furnace, were being paid on a weekly basis. Those payments were meant to be made on Friday of every week. Last Friday, OneSteel Manufacturing did not make its payment for key componentry for the blast furnace, which was of great concern to the government. That would mean that the blast furnace could not operate. I understand that they continued their service, but this is how precarious the operations at OneSteel Manufacturing were under the operations of GFG.

Now that the administration is fully funded, those creditors, those suppliers, those critical suppliers know that when they deliver services to the steelworks they will be paid. They will be paid in 14 days, not 90, 180 or not at all—they will be paid.

I said today in the press conference and I will say it again to this parliament, I hope that the workers at Whyalla do all they can to protect the blast furnace until the administrators are on site, protect the critical infrastructure. They do not take any instructions from GFG officials, they take instructions now from the administrator who has been lawfully put in place and in key control. It is important that we secure the critical infrastructure in Whyalla to make sure that it is safe. We make sure that all the critical componentry that is required, all the critical components to maintain a blast furnace, are maintained. I think what you will see now in Whyalla is a lot of activity very, very quickly, including a lot of maintenance that has been left undone for lack of funds.