House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-31 Daily Xml

Contents

HOLDEN COINVESTMENT

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): Has the government offered to increase its $50 million coinvestment to Holden to secure the two new models through to 2022 despite the fact that the Premier reiterates on a continuous basis that we had a binding agreement for those two new models through to 2022 as of March last year?

An honourable member: Argument.

The SPEAKER: Yes, it is comment. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:15): No, we have never been asked. So that the members opposite actually understand the nature of the situation, what occurred is that Holden has decided, on the business case they presented, which was the basis for the first funding agreement, that they would not go ahead and build cars.

What is our remedy? Not to go to court and seek to enforce that agreement, but just not pay our money. What they seek to do is to enter into a new agreement based on a new business case which takes into account the new international realities that they face. That was a proposition that Holden, the commonwealth government and we have entered into; and we will not ask for an additional dollar. I am not in the habit of handing over money I am not asked to hand over.