Whyalla Steelworks

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (14:49): My question is to the Leader of the Government regarding OneSteel Manufacturing:

1. Has the government received advice on the likely length of the administration of OneSteel Manufacturing?

2. Has the government received advice on the likelihood of all OneSteel Manufacturing creditors being fully repaid, being the full hundred cents in the dollar, and if so what is the expected timeline?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:49): I thank the member for his question. I think it is far too early in the process of administration to have any particularly definitive answers in relation to that. I am trying to think. From memory, the last time Arrium, the steelmaking business in Whyalla, was in administration, it was many months. I think it was over a year—

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: Seventeen months.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —seventeen months, a year and a half, that administration lasted. I don't think anybody expects this to be a very short process. Some information was released at the first creditors' meeting that occurred in Whyalla yesterday. I think some of the comments that I have heard were that the administrators, KordaMentha, found it in a worse condition than they had expected to find the Whyalla Steelworks. That shows there is a significant task ahead, and that's exactly why this state government and the federal government have committed very significant resources to making sure the Whyalla Steelworks has the best possible chance of having that ongoing future.