❓ Question regarding BHP Billiton's Boodarie iron plant closure and job losses in Port Hedland. The Minister responds by highlighting safety concerns following a tragic accident and outlines actions taken to assist affected workers.
AnsweredQoN 722Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to revelations that BHP Billiton is considering closing down its Boodarie iron plant, jeopardising the jobs of 450 workers in Port Hedland. (1) When did the minister first become aware that BHP Billiton would be placing the plant on care and maintenance status? (2) Given the importance of the project to Port Hedland and the Pilbara region and the Western Australian economy, what action has the minister taken to try to secure the jobs of these workers and ensure the long-term viability of this high value-adding plant? Mr C.M. BROWN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
(1) When did the minister first become aware that BHP Billiton would be placing the plant on care and maintenance status? (2) Given the importance of the project to Port Hedland and the Pilbara region and the Western Australian economy, what action has the minister taken to try to secure the jobs of these workers and ensure the long-term viability of this high value-adding plant? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
(2) Given the importance of the project to Port Hedland and the Pilbara region and the Western Australian economy, what action has the minister taken to try to secure the jobs of these workers and ensure the long-term viability of this high value-adding plant? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
(1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
(1) When did the minister first become aware that BHP Billiton would be placing the plant on care and maintenance status? (2) Given the importance of the project to Port Hedland and the Pilbara region and the Western Australian economy, what action has the minister taken to try to secure the jobs of these workers and ensure the long-term viability of this high value-adding plant? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
(2) Given the importance of the project to Port Hedland and the Pilbara region and the Western Australian economy, what action has the minister taken to try to secure the jobs of these workers and ensure the long-term viability of this high value-adding plant? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
(1)-(2) Earlier this year a tragic accident occurred at the BHP Billiton Boodarie plant when there was an explosion and a fire. One worker lost his life and other workers were seriously injured. As a result, an exhaustive inquiry was undertaken into the cause or causes of the fire and explosion. Shortly after that tragic event, BHP Billiton made it very clear that it would not reopen the plant unless or until it could be absolutely certain that the plant could be run safely or it could be assured that there would be no repeat of the tragedy that had occurred. It has been known since that tragic incident that there was always a prospect of the plant not reopening unless the company could be absolutely assured that that sort of incident would not occur again. The inquiry into the causes of this tragic accident has taken an exhausting amount of time. I think we were advised earlier this week that BHP intended to move from the policy it had adopted until now, which was one of continuing the employment of all BHP Billiton employees, to one in which it would seek to relocate a number of its employees to other BHP operations, in which case some employees might lose their positions. We have established a task force to work with the company and the employees to look for and assist with alternative employment. There is no question that this is a significant blow to Port Hedland, but the first obligation any company has to its employees is to make sure they come home every night. If a company cannot give that guarantee, and if a company cannot say to the families of those employees that it cannot be sure that they will come home safely every night, it has an obligation not to put those employees at risk. That is a fundamental obligation. Would I countenance an operation continuing if I thought for a moment that it might result in an employee being killed or seriously injured? No, I would not, because I do not believe we can place human life or tragedy above economic interest. I feel enormously strongly about this. Anybody who seeks to misuse his position, or abuse it, or endeavours to place economic interests above human life or tragic injury I will strongly attack personally, vehemently and politically.
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