❓ Premier Barnett updates the WA parliament on his China visit and a new memorandum of understanding with China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to facilitate investment and collaboration.
AnsweredQoN 589Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM COMMISSION, CHINA–STATE government — MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
China is Western Australia’s biggest trading partner and very important to our economy. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I have given the call to the member for Geraldton. If you wish to seek the call, stand and I will give you the call. At this point I am formally going to call you to order for the first time. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Can the Premier please update the house on his recent visit to China and the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Western Australia and China’s National Development and Reform Commission? Mr C.J. BARNETT
China is Western Australia’s biggest trading partner and very important to our economy. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I have given the call to the member for Geraldton. If you wish to seek the call, stand and I will give you the call. At this point I am formally going to call you to order for the first time. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Can the Premier please update the house on his recent visit to China and the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Western Australia and China’s National Development and Reform Commission? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I have given the call to the member for Geraldton. If you wish to seek the call, stand and I will give you the call. At this point I am formally going to call you to order for the first time. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Can the Premier please update the house on his recent visit to China and the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Western Australia and China’s National Development and Reform Commission? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I have given the call to the member for Geraldton. If you wish to seek the call, stand and I will give you the call. At this point I am formally going to call you to order for the first time. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Can the Premier please update the house on his recent visit to China and the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Western Australia and China’s National Development and Reform Commission? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Can the Premier please update the house on his recent visit to China and the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Western Australia and China’s National Development and Reform Commission? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
[See paper 3884.]
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I have given the call to the member for Geraldton. If you wish to seek the call, stand and I will give you the call. At this point I am formally going to call you to order for the first time. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Can the Premier please update the house on his recent visit to China and the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Western Australia and China’s National Development and Reform Commission? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I have given the call to the member for Geraldton. If you wish to seek the call, stand and I will give you the call. At this point I am formally going to call you to order for the first time. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Can the Premier please update the house on his recent visit to China and the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Western Australia and China’s National Development and Reform Commission? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Can the Premier please update the house on his recent visit to China and the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Western Australia and China’s National Development and Reform Commission? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question, and obviously he has a great interest in this matter because of the Oakajee project in his region. It was a very brief visit, for only a couple of days on the ground in Beijing. The purpose was twofold. The first was the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Chairman Zhang Ping of the National Development and Reform Commission. For any members who are not aware, that is the body that approves all overseas investment by all state-owned enterprises, and much of the investment also within China. It was a unique agreement. The NDRC has, obviously, reached a number of other memorandums of understanding with national governments on particular projects and many with companies, but this is the first time it has entered into an agreement with a state or provincial government at a ministerial level in China. The agreement is about a long-term relationship and looks at projects from a government-to-government point of view. I am hopeful that this arrangement will allow a better understanding on both sides of what Chinese companies seek when they get involved in projects. We will also be able to present what we seek out of Chinese companies from a Western Australian perspective. Areas that will come up—apart from major projects and infrastructure development and the like—will include, hopefully, local content to allow Western Australian businesses to be involved in projects at a far earlier stage. The agreement also opens the door for Western Australian mining services companies and exploration and mining companies to work with Chinese corporations in China and, potentially, in emerging areas such as Central Asia and Africa. Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr M. McGowan : What? They couldn’t do that before? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Negative—predictably negative! I think it is important. Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr M. McGowan : It is the flimsiest document! Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : “Flimsy document”! Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That just tells us so much about how the Labor Party does not grasp the significance of the relationship with China. Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr E.S. Ripper : Of course we do. How ridiculous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Labor Party members are making cracks about the Long March and about coming back with copy watches. That is the level at which the Labor Party treats our relationship with a major trading partner. This is an important agreement. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Member for Cannington, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : As part of this agreement, a Chinese–Western Australian investment facilitation group will meet on an annual basis. Basically, that will be at an officials level, with members from the NDRC and from the Western Australian government, but it also has the capacity to bring in and involve private proponents. One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
One thing I learned from this trip to China is that not all companies were representing their positions accurately to the Chinese government. That will be corrected. Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr M. McGowan : Who? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was a little gilding of the lily; let us put it that way. This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
This agreement will set up a more formal relationship. All big projects in Western Australia involve government in one way or another, whether through approvals, infrastructure development, mining or the like. The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
The visit to China gave us an opportunity to have discussions about the Oakajee project. Oakajee Port and Rail is a consortium of Mitsubishi and Murchison Metals. I stress that both companies wanted me to go to China. In fact, Mitsubishi requested that I negotiate with the Chinese about bringing them formally into the project. I hope that that will be an outcome. However, as I have said to the media, at its current — Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr E.S. Ripper : You said you were going to come back with a deal. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I said quite specifically that I would not come back with a deal. I think I saw it on television; I said, “I will not come back with a deal.” Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr M. McGowan : That is how you know what you said! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is exactly what I said. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at opposition members; they are giggling. The puerile giggling shows that the Labor Party is not up to dealing with major projects on an international scale. This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
This agreement also allows the opportunity for negotiations about agriculture. I will give members one good example. China is interested in agricultural investment in this state and through this forum we will be able, perhaps, to negotiate that its involvement will take place without it necessarily buying up agricultural land. I think that a lot of very positive things can come out of this agreement. Obviously, the Labor Party does not support this sort of engagement in Asia, but for the interest of members, I table a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding, which the Labor Party has scorned. There is even a copy in Mandarin for members. [See paper 3884.]
[See paper 3884.]
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