❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the Premier about the closure of the Windimurra vanadium mine and the government's efforts to reopen or sell it. The Premier deflects blame, citing the previous government's lack of oversight and highlights current efforts.
AnsweredQoN 251Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to the front page article in the business section of today’s The West Australian - the headline reads “State knocks back Windimurra rescue” - relating to the closure of the vanadium mine near Mt Magnet, which is owned by Swiss mining house Xstrata. (1) Is the Premier aware that the Windimurra mine is a high value-adding project, one of the most efficient and largest vanadium mines in the world, and, at current vanadium prices, could operate on a very profitable basis of $6 compared with $3.50? (2) Is the Premier aware that, if reopened, this mine has the potential to produce $150 million per annum in additional exports, employ 200 Western Australians and generate $3 million per annum in royalties to the State? (3) What action has the State Government taken to encourage Xstrata to either reopen the mine or place it on the market as a complete project? (4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(1) Is the Premier aware that the Windimurra mine is a high value-adding project, one of the most efficient and largest vanadium mines in the world, and, at current vanadium prices, could operate on a very profitable basis of $6 compared with $3.50? (2) Is the Premier aware that, if reopened, this mine has the potential to produce $150 million per annum in additional exports, employ 200 Western Australians and generate $3 million per annum in royalties to the State? (3) What action has the State Government taken to encourage Xstrata to either reopen the mine or place it on the market as a complete project? (4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(2) Is the Premier aware that, if reopened, this mine has the potential to produce $150 million per annum in additional exports, employ 200 Western Australians and generate $3 million per annum in royalties to the State? (3) What action has the State Government taken to encourage Xstrata to either reopen the mine or place it on the market as a complete project? (4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(3) What action has the State Government taken to encourage Xstrata to either reopen the mine or place it on the market as a complete project? (4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(1) Is the Premier aware that the Windimurra mine is a high value-adding project, one of the most efficient and largest vanadium mines in the world, and, at current vanadium prices, could operate on a very profitable basis of $6 compared with $3.50? (2) Is the Premier aware that, if reopened, this mine has the potential to produce $150 million per annum in additional exports, employ 200 Western Australians and generate $3 million per annum in royalties to the State? (3) What action has the State Government taken to encourage Xstrata to either reopen the mine or place it on the market as a complete project? (4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(2) Is the Premier aware that, if reopened, this mine has the potential to produce $150 million per annum in additional exports, employ 200 Western Australians and generate $3 million per annum in royalties to the State? (3) What action has the State Government taken to encourage Xstrata to either reopen the mine or place it on the market as a complete project? (4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(3) What action has the State Government taken to encourage Xstrata to either reopen the mine or place it on the market as a complete project? (4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(4) Will the Premier accept my offer of bipartisan support for immediate action to ensure the mine is reopened or sold to a third party in the interests of developing employment in the mid west region of Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
(1)-(4) The headline in today’s The West Australian is quite misleading. In answer to the specific questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, in general terms I am aware of this project and of its potential. In terms of action, clearly it would be in the interests of Western Australia to have this project up and running. There is no question about that. The Minister for State Development has made that very clear in all the comments he has made on this matter. Unfortunately, from the Government’s point of view, having looked into this issue, there are very few levers. When state support was given to the project through Western Power, under the watch of the now Leader of the Opposition, no conditions were attached to protect the public interest of Western Australia. Who is responsible for that? It is the Leader of the Opposition. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition ensured that Western Power entered into this arrangement, which is costing a significant amount of money every year. In terms of guaranteeing that the project would be ongoing, nothing was done by the then Government. What is this Government doing? The Minister for State Development has spoken to all the stakeholders, including the company that has expressed some interest in buying out the project and the company that currently has the controlling interest. I am confident that in those discussions the Minister for State Development is representing the public interest of Western Australia firmly, as he always does. When this Government deals with these types of issues, as it frequently does, it makes sure that it has levers so that the public interest can be protected in the future. The responsibility for the failure of the previous Government to provide conditions on the project to support its sustainability lies with the Leader of the Opposition. This Government is taking action. The Minister for State Development is doing all that he can to press upon those involved that there ought to be a chance for the marketplace to determine whether this project goes ahead. That is the position the Government is taking and it is putting it forcefully. I repeat: there are no levers available to us. Why? It is because of the incompetence of the now Leader of the Opposition.
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