❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Premier's past predictions regarding the Oakajee and Browse LNG projects, highlighting perceived failures. The Premier deflects, discussing broader resource development and challenging the questioner.
AnsweredQoN 163Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BROWSE LNG PROJECT — OAKAJEE
163. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
claim in November 2012, ''I can tell members that Oakajee will happen'',
and his claim in February this year about the Browse project, ''I am
confident the project will go ahead.'' Is not really the only time he
has correctly assessed one of these projects when he said in 2013 —
Dr
K.D. Hames interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Health, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : — ''I'm a realist, I've
failed''? He also said —
I've failed to get the
project, LNG, onto James Price Point, I've failed to create the
thousands of jobs for West Australians, I've failed to create the
opportunity for West Australian industry.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : Sorry; I missed the question, I couldn't hear it.
What was the actual question?
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : I heard all the preamble.
The
SPEAKER : Repeat the question, member for Cannington.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : I referred to the Premier's claim in November 2012, ''I
can tell members that Oakajee will happen'', and his claim in February
this year about the Browse project, ''I am confident the project will go
ahead.'' Is not really the only time he has correctly assessed one of
these projects when he said in 2013, ''I'm a realist, I've
failed''? He also said —
I've failed to get the
project, LNG, onto James Price Point, I've failed to create the
thousands of jobs for West Australians, I've failed to create the
opportunity for West Australian industry.
163. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
claim in November 2012, ''I can tell members that Oakajee will happen'',
and his claim in February this year about the Browse project, ''I am
confident the project will go ahead.'' Is not really the only time he
has correctly assessed one of these projects when he said in 2013 —
Dr
K.D. Hames interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Health, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : — ''I'm a realist, I've
failed''? He also said —
I've failed to get the
project, LNG, onto James Price Point, I've failed to create the
thousands of jobs for West Australians, I've failed to create the
opportunity for West Australian industry.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : Sorry; I missed the question, I couldn't hear it.
What was the actual question?
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : I heard all the preamble.
The
SPEAKER : Repeat the question, member for Cannington.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : I referred to the Premier's claim in November 2012, ''I
can tell members that Oakajee will happen'', and his claim in February
this year about the Browse project, ''I am confident the project will go
ahead.'' Is not really the only time he has correctly assessed one of
these projects when he said in 2013, ''I'm a realist, I've
failed''? He also said —
I've failed to get the
project, LNG, onto James Price Point, I've failed to create the
thousands of jobs for West Australians, I've failed to create the
opportunity for West Australian industry.
AnswerView source ↗
I am not quite sure whether there is
a question there.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is too subtle for me. I have spoken already today about
the Browse project. It is a fabulous gas resource and there are a number of
significant gas fields in the greater Browse Basin. Two projects are coming on,
and that gas field will be developed over the next 20, 30 or 40 years. Indeed,
even if we look at the Carnarvon Basin, existing and producing, it is probably
where the Gulf of Mexico was 20 years ago. These are long-term projects with
huge gas resources.
With respect to the projects, yes, I
think there will be a development at Oakajee. This government has created the
corridors and the like. A lot of planning has gone into it. Indeed, Karara
Mining is a major producer. That is under stress due to low iron ore prices,
and the state government has taken a number of measures to help support that
through this difficult time. That is interesting because the Karara project
and, indeed, Sino Iron in the Pilbara represent the development of a new part
of the iron ore industry—the magnetite iron ore industry. Magnetite is
a premium product when processed and, indeed, is in demand in China to the tune
of 50 million tonnes a year for the production of high-quality specialist
steel. That is a change in the nature. For years it was thought that the
magnetite resources here, which are literally thousands of years of supply,
would never be used. They are now being developed for the first time under this
government—that is important. Probably the original concept for Oakajee
will not happen. We may see a more conventional loading facility, a bit like
the Cape Lambert project that was recently completed by Rio Tinto. That could
well happen. I do not know what sort of agenda the member for Cannington is
running, but I will give him a little challenge: name a part of Western Australia
where I have not played a direct role in a major project—name one.
a question there.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is too subtle for me. I have spoken already today about
the Browse project. It is a fabulous gas resource and there are a number of
significant gas fields in the greater Browse Basin. Two projects are coming on,
and that gas field will be developed over the next 20, 30 or 40 years. Indeed,
even if we look at the Carnarvon Basin, existing and producing, it is probably
where the Gulf of Mexico was 20 years ago. These are long-term projects with
huge gas resources.
With respect to the projects, yes, I
think there will be a development at Oakajee. This government has created the
corridors and the like. A lot of planning has gone into it. Indeed, Karara
Mining is a major producer. That is under stress due to low iron ore prices,
and the state government has taken a number of measures to help support that
through this difficult time. That is interesting because the Karara project
and, indeed, Sino Iron in the Pilbara represent the development of a new part
of the iron ore industry—the magnetite iron ore industry. Magnetite is
a premium product when processed and, indeed, is in demand in China to the tune
of 50 million tonnes a year for the production of high-quality specialist
steel. That is a change in the nature. For years it was thought that the
magnetite resources here, which are literally thousands of years of supply,
would never be used. They are now being developed for the first time under this
government—that is important. Probably the original concept for Oakajee
will not happen. We may see a more conventional loading facility, a bit like
the Cape Lambert project that was recently completed by Rio Tinto. That could
well happen. I do not know what sort of agenda the member for Cannington is
running, but I will give him a little challenge: name a part of Western Australia
where I have not played a direct role in a major project—name one.
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