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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-02-09 Daily Xml
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Whyalla Steelworks

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (16:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Manufacturing and Innovation questions about the future of the City of Whyalla.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Recently, we have heard of downsizing at the Whyalla steelworks leading to speculation about its future. Anyone who knows anything about the City of Whyalla knows that the steelworks are the backbone of the town, and any risk to its future is a risk to the future of the Whyalla community. My questions are:

1. What is the minister's understanding of the health of the Whyalla steelworks?

2. Can the minister update the council on the future prospects of employment in Whyalla?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (16:12): I thank the honourable member for his question and his very significant interest in these areas. I think it was last year or the year before that we both attended the 50th anniversary of the steelworks, which was quite an interesting function and dinner.

The steelworks, as the honourable member has pointed out, are critical to Whyalla and that area. I know that there is a high-level steel industry task force that was put together by minister Koutsantonis, the Minister for Mining and Energy. I will inquire as to exactly where that is up to and I will bring back an answer for the honourable member. I also thank him for passing on to me concerns he has when parliament is not sitting about the area and about particular companies that I know the Department of State Development is following up.

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