❓ The Minister defends the government's decision regarding resource company contributions to the Pilbara plan, accusing the opposition leader of hypocrisy and dishonesty regarding a similar funding announcement. The Minister claims there was no firm agreement for the resource companies' contribution.
AnsweredQoN 866Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the Pilbara plan and the Government’s decision to not require resource companies to contribute $20 million in addition to the Government’s $20 million contribution. Why did the Government change its mind about the contribution by the resource companies? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I cannot believe that the Leader of the Opposition has again brought up this matter in this place. It is the utmost cheek for him to have done so given that this matter was discussed as part of members’ statements on Friday. I have already put on record about the Pilbara plan that the Government did not have a firm agreement, as I understand, for the commitment of the contribution of the additional $20 million. The lead-up to this was done at a time when I was not the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. Having said that, I put on record on Friday last week that this is very different from what the Liberal Party did in its very dishonest announcement of a $50 million fund when the Leader of the Opposition well knows that the value of the fund is only a $25 million contribution. The Leader of the Opposition has not made a public announcement about a $50 million fund that is $25 million short. It is $25 million short because he has made a huge assumption about locking in the mining companies for the additional $25 million and he has no commitment from them whatsoever. Has the Leader of the Opposition visited BHP Billiton and how much has it committed? Point of Order Hon PETER FOSS: The minister is not answering the question and is asking questions herself. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I cannot believe that the Leader of the Opposition has again brought up this matter in this place. It is the utmost cheek for him to have done so given that this matter was discussed as part of members’ statements on Friday. I have already put on record about the Pilbara plan that the Government did not have a firm agreement, as I understand, for the commitment of the contribution of the additional $20 million. The lead-up to this was done at a time when I was not the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. Having said that, I put on record on Friday last week that this is very different from what the Liberal Party did in its very dishonest announcement of a $50 million fund when the Leader of the Opposition well knows that the value of the fund is only a $25 million contribution. The Leader of the Opposition has not made a public announcement about a $50 million fund that is $25 million short. It is $25 million short because he has made a huge assumption about locking in the mining companies for the additional $25 million and he has no commitment from them whatsoever. Has the Leader of the Opposition visited BHP Billiton and how much has it committed? Point of Order Hon PETER FOSS: The minister is not answering the question and is asking questions herself. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I cannot believe that the Leader of the Opposition has again brought up this matter in this place. It is the utmost cheek for him to have done so given that this matter was discussed as part of members’ statements on Friday. I have already put on record about the Pilbara plan that the Government did not have a firm agreement, as I understand, for the commitment of the contribution of the additional $20 million. The lead-up to this was done at a time when I was not the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. Having said that, I put on record on Friday last week that this is very different from what the Liberal Party did in its very dishonest announcement of a $50 million fund when the Leader of the Opposition well knows that the value of the fund is only a $25 million contribution. The Leader of the Opposition has not made a public announcement about a $50 million fund that is $25 million short. It is $25 million short because he has made a huge assumption about locking in the mining companies for the additional $25 million and he has no commitment from them whatsoever. Has the Leader of the Opposition visited BHP Billiton and how much has it committed? Point of Order Hon PETER FOSS: The minister is not answering the question and is asking questions herself. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
I have already put on record about the Pilbara plan that the Government did not have a firm agreement, as I understand, for the commitment of the contribution of the additional $20 million. The lead-up to this was done at a time when I was not the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. Having said that, I put on record on Friday last week that this is very different from what the Liberal Party did in its very dishonest announcement of a $50 million fund when the Leader of the Opposition well knows that the value of the fund is only a $25 million contribution. The Leader of the Opposition has not made a public announcement about a $50 million fund that is $25 million short. It is $25 million short because he has made a huge assumption about locking in the mining companies for the additional $25 million and he has no commitment from them whatsoever. Has the Leader of the Opposition visited BHP Billiton and how much has it committed? Point of Order Hon PETER FOSS: The minister is not answering the question and is asking questions herself. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I cannot believe that the Leader of the Opposition has again brought up this matter in this place. It is the utmost cheek for him to have done so given that this matter was discussed as part of members’ statements on Friday. I have already put on record about the Pilbara plan that the Government did not have a firm agreement, as I understand, for the commitment of the contribution of the additional $20 million. The lead-up to this was done at a time when I was not the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. Having said that, I put on record on Friday last week that this is very different from what the Liberal Party did in its very dishonest announcement of a $50 million fund when the Leader of the Opposition well knows that the value of the fund is only a $25 million contribution. The Leader of the Opposition has not made a public announcement about a $50 million fund that is $25 million short. It is $25 million short because he has made a huge assumption about locking in the mining companies for the additional $25 million and he has no commitment from them whatsoever. Has the Leader of the Opposition visited BHP Billiton and how much has it committed? Point of Order Hon PETER FOSS: The minister is not answering the question and is asking questions herself. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I cannot believe that the Leader of the Opposition has again brought up this matter in this place. It is the utmost cheek for him to have done so given that this matter was discussed as part of members’ statements on Friday. I have already put on record about the Pilbara plan that the Government did not have a firm agreement, as I understand, for the commitment of the contribution of the additional $20 million. The lead-up to this was done at a time when I was not the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. Having said that, I put on record on Friday last week that this is very different from what the Liberal Party did in its very dishonest announcement of a $50 million fund when the Leader of the Opposition well knows that the value of the fund is only a $25 million contribution. The Leader of the Opposition has not made a public announcement about a $50 million fund that is $25 million short. It is $25 million short because he has made a huge assumption about locking in the mining companies for the additional $25 million and he has no commitment from them whatsoever. Has the Leader of the Opposition visited BHP Billiton and how much has it committed? Point of Order Hon PETER FOSS: The minister is not answering the question and is asking questions herself. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
I have already put on record about the Pilbara plan that the Government did not have a firm agreement, as I understand, for the commitment of the contribution of the additional $20 million. The lead-up to this was done at a time when I was not the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development. Having said that, I put on record on Friday last week that this is very different from what the Liberal Party did in its very dishonest announcement of a $50 million fund when the Leader of the Opposition well knows that the value of the fund is only a $25 million contribution. The Leader of the Opposition has not made a public announcement about a $50 million fund that is $25 million short. It is $25 million short because he has made a huge assumption about locking in the mining companies for the additional $25 million and he has no commitment from them whatsoever. Has the Leader of the Opposition visited BHP Billiton and how much has it committed? Point of Order Hon PETER FOSS: The minister is not answering the question and is asking questions herself. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: The Leader of the Opposition may well have approached the mining companies. I am advised that he has absolutely no commitment from any of the mining companies concerned about allocating $25 million to the fund. That did not stop the Leader of the Opposition making an announcement that he had a $50 million Pilbara assistance package when in fact it was only $25 million. The Government was not dishonest but the Leader of the Opposition was. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that he is stupid enough to bring this issue back to this House. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
The PRESIDENT: Order, members!
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