❓ Question regarding the Oakajee Port and Rail project's deadline extension and funding of common-user infrastructure. Premier's response is evasive, focusing on restructuring and cost reduction, but avoids direct answers.
AnsweredQoN 819Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OAKAJEE PORT AND RAIL PROJECT — STATE AGREEMENT ACT
I refer to the Oakajee state development agreement that the government signed in March 2009. (1) Are the any circumstances under which the Premier will extend Oakajee Port and Rail’s 31 December deadline? (2) Does the state government now accept that some common-user infrastructure will have to be funded by the private sector because of the cost blow-outs? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Oakajee state development agreement that the government signed in March 2009. (1) Are the any circumstances under which the Premier will extend Oakajee Port and Rail’s 31 December deadline? (2) Does the state government now accept that some common-user infrastructure will have to be funded by the private sector because of the cost blow-outs? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
(1) Are the any circumstances under which the Premier will extend Oakajee Port and Rail’s 31 December deadline? (2) Does the state government now accept that some common-user infrastructure will have to be funded by the private sector because of the cost blow-outs? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
(2) Does the state government now accept that some common-user infrastructure will have to be funded by the private sector because of the cost blow-outs? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
(1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
(1) Are the any circumstances under which the Premier will extend Oakajee Port and Rail’s 31 December deadline? (2) Does the state government now accept that some common-user infrastructure will have to be funded by the private sector because of the cost blow-outs? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
(2) Does the state government now accept that some common-user infrastructure will have to be funded by the private sector because of the cost blow-outs? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
(1)–(2) Gee, you hate this project, don’t you! Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr M. McGowan : We are just asking questions. We do not hate it. That is ridiculous. Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You do. You are doing everything you can to stop development in the Mid West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The exclusive mandate that Oakajee Port and Rail holds runs out at the end of December. Obviously, in the days leading up to that the government will make a decision. I would think that the most likely outcome will be that the exclusivity of that will cease, but we will continue to work with Oakajee Port and Rail. We will be able to work as government more openly with other parties, in a sense, to bring them into the project to try to enable a corporate restructure. Indeed, some moves are happening right now in that regard. We will try to remove the inherent conflicts of interest that were in that project; in other words, to separate the mining interests from the infrastructure interests. Yes, there will be some rejigging and more work done on the capital cost to the project. There is no doubt the capital cost is too high. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Will the private sector have to pay for some common-user infrastructure? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Ask it as a supplementary question if you want to. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : No, no; that is the second part of the question; I hope you’re going to answer it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want me to sit down or does he want me to answer it? Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr M. McGowan : It is a two-part question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well, that is tricky—two parts, so I am answering it. That will continue. Some work is being done currently on bringing down the capital cost of the project. I will wait and see — Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What is the latest estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not know. That work is being done currently, which implies I do not know the answer yet. When that work is done — Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : If it is coming down, there must have been a previous estimate you are bringing it down from. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition not understand that this is not a government project? Oakajee port and rail is a private project. The government involvement is overseeing it and the development of the common-user infrastructure — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Ms M.M. Quirk : You’ve changed your tune. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not changed my tune. It is a private mining, private rail project with a publicly owned port. That is the project, and what I will concentrate on is developing the port and seeing a staged development and a separation. Members opposite oppose the project; that is self-evident to everyone. Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What a stupid assertion. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite have nothing constructive to say about developing the Mid West. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Nothing constructive. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : Members! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I do not want to hear you when I am on my feet. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Come the end of December, we will make that decision. As I foreshadowed, we will most likely take away the exclusivity, or that will simply lapse. That will allow us to deal openly with all parties. I think that would be desirable. Clearly, there has been some debate in the media about the future of Murchison Metals. I guess we can watch this space and see how that pans out. I welcome that; I think we need to see a realignment corporately. I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
I do not know a figure yet for the cost of the port, but a port can be operated at various stages. A port can be available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, or it can be available, on average, 250 days a year. We do not have to have a port of the highest level specification from day one. They are some of the decisions that will be made. Obviously, it will have a dramatic effect on the cost of the port. Any project — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member is mumbling away there. Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr F.M. Logan : It’ll be a smaller port—a shrinking port, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not a matter of a smaller port; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; it is a matter of the availability of the port. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do members think the Pilbara ports initially had 365-day capacity? Of course they did not. As I have been saying for some time, one of the problems with the Oakajee port and rail process that members opposite set up was that it would be a big bang and everything would be perfect from day one. Big bangs do not happen. It will be a progressive and staged development. An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
An opposition member interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, but will I tell you what: I might just get it over the line and I hope you are the first to come up and say, “Well done”. The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : Supplementary question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
The SPEAKER : Members, I have given the Leader of the Opposition a supplementary question. I have not given anyone else the call at this point.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.