Opposition asks about the Oakajee Port and Rail project's cost estimates and the necessity of Chinese involvement. The Premier acknowledges cost reassessments and welcomes Chinese participation, but doesn't provide specific cost figures.

AnsweredQoN 732Legislative Assembly
Asked
2 November 2011
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

OAKAJEE PORT AND RAIL PROJECT
In mid-June, the Premier said he expected to get final cost estimates regarding the Oakajee project by 30 June. (1) What is the latest advice the Premier has about the cost of the common-user infrastructure? (2) Will the Premier table this advice? (3) Is it a state government requirement that a Chinese partner be involved in the Oakajee project, or would the government accept a non-Chinese partner of suitable financial strength? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

(1)–(3) I think a non-Chinese partner in the form of Mitsubishi is already there, and is likely to stay there. I would certainly welcome Chinese participation in the project in a more formal way. Some work is being underdone—sorry; it probably is underdone! Work is being done to reassess some of the specifications of the port and some of the rail. There is a view amongst several proponents and several potential users of the infrastructure that it is over-engineered and can be brought down in cost. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you have a latest cost estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I am answering your questions. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
(1) What is the latest advice the Premier has about the cost of the common-user infrastructure? (2) Will the Premier table this advice? (3) Is it a state government requirement that a Chinese partner be involved in the Oakajee project, or would the government accept a non-Chinese partner of suitable financial strength? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) I think a non-Chinese partner in the form of Mitsubishi is already there, and is likely to stay there. I would certainly welcome Chinese participation in the project in a more formal way. Some work is being underdone—sorry; it probably is underdone! Work is being done to reassess some of the specifications of the port and some of the rail. There is a view amongst several proponents and several potential users of the infrastructure that it is over-engineered and can be brought down in cost. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you have a latest cost estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I am answering your questions. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
(2) Will the Premier table this advice? (3) Is it a state government requirement that a Chinese partner be involved in the Oakajee project, or would the government accept a non-Chinese partner of suitable financial strength? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) I think a non-Chinese partner in the form of Mitsubishi is already there, and is likely to stay there. I would certainly welcome Chinese participation in the project in a more formal way. Some work is being underdone—sorry; it probably is underdone! Work is being done to reassess some of the specifications of the port and some of the rail. There is a view amongst several proponents and several potential users of the infrastructure that it is over-engineered and can be brought down in cost. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you have a latest cost estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I am answering your questions. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
(3) Is it a state government requirement that a Chinese partner be involved in the Oakajee project, or would the government accept a non-Chinese partner of suitable financial strength? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) I think a non-Chinese partner in the form of Mitsubishi is already there, and is likely to stay there. I would certainly welcome Chinese participation in the project in a more formal way. Some work is being underdone—sorry; it probably is underdone! Work is being done to reassess some of the specifications of the port and some of the rail. There is a view amongst several proponents and several potential users of the infrastructure that it is over-engineered and can be brought down in cost. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you have a latest cost estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I am answering your questions. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) I think a non-Chinese partner in the form of Mitsubishi is already there, and is likely to stay there. I would certainly welcome Chinese participation in the project in a more formal way. Some work is being underdone—sorry; it probably is underdone! Work is being done to reassess some of the specifications of the port and some of the rail. There is a view amongst several proponents and several potential users of the infrastructure that it is over-engineered and can be brought down in cost. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you have a latest cost estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I am answering your questions. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
(1)–(3) I think a non-Chinese partner in the form of Mitsubishi is already there, and is likely to stay there. I would certainly welcome Chinese participation in the project in a more formal way. Some work is being underdone—sorry; it probably is underdone! Work is being done to reassess some of the specifications of the port and some of the rail. There is a view amongst several proponents and several potential users of the infrastructure that it is over-engineered and can be brought down in cost. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you have a latest cost estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I am answering your questions. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you have a latest cost estimate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I am answering your questions. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I am answering your questions. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay, I’ll listen. Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : As members know, in September I met with the National Development and Reform Commission chairman in Beijing. It is commissioning its own assessment of the project, and I have yet to receive any further report from it. The mandate, if members like, that Oakajee Port and Rail has runs out on 31 December. That is where the project is at.

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