❓ Mr Michel raises concerns about the future of the Sino Iron project and the jobs of 1500 workers. The Premier responds by criticising Clive Palmer's Mineralogy for hindering the project's expansion and putting 3000 jobs at risk, while also acknowledging bipartisan support for resolving the issue.
AnsweredQoN 1022Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SINO IRON PROJECT —
MINE CONTINUATION PROPOSALS— KARRATHA
1022. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Premier:
I refer to the petition I tabled on
Tuesday advocating for more than 1 500 workers at CITIC Pacific's Sino
Iron project, who are concerned about the future of the project and want to see
their jobs protected. Can the Premier outline his response to the concerns I have
raised on behalf of these workers?
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central.
MINE CONTINUATION PROPOSALS— KARRATHA
1022. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Premier:
I refer to the petition I tabled on
Tuesday advocating for more than 1 500 workers at CITIC Pacific's Sino
Iron project, who are concerned about the future of the project and want to see
their jobs protected. Can the Premier outline his response to the concerns I have
raised on behalf of these workers?
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central.
AnswerView source ↗
Firstly, on behalf of the member for
Bassendean, I acknowledge the members of the Swan Districts Football Club board
who are in the gallery today.
Secondly, I acknowledge the work of
the member for Pilbara and I thank him for tabling that petition in Parliament
yesterday. He is here fighting for jobs for the people of the Pilbara and Western
Australia. He is taking up the fight for the workers on the Sino Iron project,
in the Pilbara. These workers have every right to be concerned about the
behaviour of Mr Clive Palmer and his company Mineralogy, which holds the leases
underpinning the project via a state agreement. It is a serious issue for the
state's reputation as a place to invest. It is a serious issue for the
3 000 Australian workers employed at the project. The operators of Sino Iron,
CITIC Pacific, simply want to expand their tailings area onto the adjoining
leases. They have been in discussions for a long time now with Mineralogy
trying to organise a reasonable outcome. If CITIC is denied access to these
leases by Mineralogy, that puts at risk the future development of this
important and large magnetite project. I am very disappointed in Mr Palmer's
unreasonable response and his behaviour on this matter. Three thousand
Australian jobs are at risk and the ongoing investment of hundreds of millions
of dollars is in limbo. I urge Mr Palmer to resolve these issues with CITIC as
soon as possible in the interests of Western Australia, Australia and the
livelihoods of 3 000 Australian workers and their families.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : State
agreements are an important instrument. They are a privileged instrument for
the companies that are a party to them, and by their very nature they are there
to ensure the state's best interests are looked after, but there is a responsibility
on the beneficiary, Mineralogy, to do the right thing. I noted the recent
comments of the opposition leader and his offer to help the government do all
he can to sustain the project including altering the state agreement. I thank
the opposition leader for this commitment. It appears we are as one on this
issue, which is good to know. I am pleased we both agree that this issue needs
to be resolved. Clive Palmer and Mineralogy are now on notice. At the end of
the day, this government will do what is in the best interests of Western Australia
and the 3 000 hardworking Australians who work in CITIC's operations.
Bassendean, I acknowledge the members of the Swan Districts Football Club board
who are in the gallery today.
Secondly, I acknowledge the work of
the member for Pilbara and I thank him for tabling that petition in Parliament
yesterday. He is here fighting for jobs for the people of the Pilbara and Western
Australia. He is taking up the fight for the workers on the Sino Iron project,
in the Pilbara. These workers have every right to be concerned about the
behaviour of Mr Clive Palmer and his company Mineralogy, which holds the leases
underpinning the project via a state agreement. It is a serious issue for the
state's reputation as a place to invest. It is a serious issue for the
3 000 Australian workers employed at the project. The operators of Sino Iron,
CITIC Pacific, simply want to expand their tailings area onto the adjoining
leases. They have been in discussions for a long time now with Mineralogy
trying to organise a reasonable outcome. If CITIC is denied access to these
leases by Mineralogy, that puts at risk the future development of this
important and large magnetite project. I am very disappointed in Mr Palmer's
unreasonable response and his behaviour on this matter. Three thousand
Australian jobs are at risk and the ongoing investment of hundreds of millions
of dollars is in limbo. I urge Mr Palmer to resolve these issues with CITIC as
soon as possible in the interests of Western Australia, Australia and the
livelihoods of 3 000 Australian workers and their families.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : State
agreements are an important instrument. They are a privileged instrument for
the companies that are a party to them, and by their very nature they are there
to ensure the state's best interests are looked after, but there is a responsibility
on the beneficiary, Mineralogy, to do the right thing. I noted the recent
comments of the opposition leader and his offer to help the government do all
he can to sustain the project including altering the state agreement. I thank
the opposition leader for this commitment. It appears we are as one on this
issue, which is good to know. I am pleased we both agree that this issue needs
to be resolved. Clive Palmer and Mineralogy are now on notice. At the end of
the day, this government will do what is in the best interests of Western Australia
and the 3 000 hardworking Australians who work in CITIC's operations.
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