Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-09 Daily Xml

Contents

UPPER SPENCER GULF

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:46): Minister, on your trip to Whyalla did any official or management personnel from OneSteel raise with you their concerns regarding the implementation of a carbon tax and the possible demise of the steelmaking works at Whyalla, and the fear that is going through that community?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:46): I did meet with OneSteel, and I enjoyed an outline and update of the operations at Whyalla. It was really exciting; there were boats there and ore was being transferred out and delivered to the tankers, so we were able to enjoy watching that activity whilst I was receiving a briefing. The carbon tax was only alluded to in the most general of ways. We did not discuss the tax, although it was mentioned as an issue. They did not want to debate or discuss that with me in any way, shape or form.

I am not surprised about that, because they have enough sense to know that it is a federal issue and I am a state minister, unlike the honourable member opposite me who does not quite get the distinction between state and federal governments yet. Never mind; if he is here for long enough eventually the penny will drop. The chief executive of OneSteel did understand the distinction between the two jurisdictions, and I was grateful for the briefing. We had discussions on a broad range of issues dealing with their current business.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Dawkins has a supplementary, I think.