Whyalla Employment

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Industrial Relations regarding jobs in Whyalla.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: My understanding is that there were at least 350 contractor jobs cut in January this year at a mining contractor in the Upper Spencer Gulf linked to former Whyalla Steelworks owner GFG Alliance, which came on top of job losses of some 48 positions at the steelworks in August last year. My questions for the minister are:

1. As someone who has attended ministerial briefings and has a stake in having a greater understanding than the rest of us here, can he confirm exactly how many people have lost their jobs, either directly or indirectly, as a result of matters to do with the steelworks in the last year?

2. Were the 400 employees and contractors who have lost their positions contacted by the government directly or through their employers?

3. Can the government rule out any further job losses?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for her question. Certainly, we would like to see as many people employed as possible in Whyalla, and that is exactly the point of the actions that have been taken this week: to do everything that is in our power to protect the ongoing operations of the steelworks and prevent further job losses.

I know that there are things being set up now that will create a place and an ability for people to go to to look at potential future work. I think there is a jobs and skills hub being set up in Whyalla to provide that sort of support for people. Our aim, above everything else, is to make sure the steelworks continues operating so it can continue to provide jobs directly and all the jobs that are provided indirectly.