Whyalla Steelworks

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:13): Supplementary: what terms does the Treasurer consider reasonable—20, 30, 60 or 90 days?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:13): I'm not going to put a particular payment schedule or timetable on the record in relation to particular businesses or industries, other than, again, to repeat: we accept the position and agree with the position of the small business commissioners, state and federal, in the past and in the recent past as well that the practices in relation to the payment of GFG had been unacceptable from the viewpoint of small businesses and medium-sized businesses in the area.

So there is furious agreement between the Hon. Mr Pangallo and myself—I am not sure that that is going to be good for his client base to have that recorded on video tonight, but let me say for the record that there is furious agreement between the Hon. Mr Pangallo and myself. I'm sure we are both very interested in protecting the jobs of as many people in Whyalla, both within GFG but also, importantly, within the small and medium-sized enterprises in South Australia. I'm delighted, in answering the question, to be on a unity ticket with the Hon. Mr Pangallo in trying to protect the jobs of workers in and around Whyalla.