A parliamentary question regarding the Minister's support for uranium exploration in Western Australia, given his promotion of mineral exploration and job creation. The Minister deflects, stating his opposition to uranium mining and questioning the questioner's position.

AnsweredQoN 529Legislative Assembly
Asked
15 September 2005
Portfolio
Tourism

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the minister’s media statement of yesterday welcoming the $167 million - that in itself is a great result - spent on mineral exploration in the June quarter, as attested to by the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. I also refer to the minister’s comment in the same statement that this result is “part of our plan to create more jobs and opportunities for Western Australians”. (1) Given that the same Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that part of the expenditure on minerals exploration was on uranium exploration, does it mean that uranium exploration, to use the minister’s words, is part of his plan? (2) Does the minister support exploration for uranium in Western Australia? Mr M. McGOWAN

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) I think the member for Leschenault is asking me his question not in my capacity as Minister for Tourism, but as Acting Minister for State Development. Is that right? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : My question is in accordance with the standing orders - it is standing order 78 regarding questions. Mr M. McGOWAN : My position on uranium mining is clear. I do not support uranium mining in Western Australia. This government has expressed its point of view very well and very clearly. I am sure the public of Western Australia understand that point. What is the position of the member for Leschenault on this matter? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Why do you allow and encourage exploration if you don’t support mining? Wow! Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.
(1) Given that the same Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that part of the expenditure on minerals exploration was on uranium exploration, does it mean that uranium exploration, to use the minister’s words, is part of his plan? (2) Does the minister support exploration for uranium in Western Australia? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I think the member for Leschenault is asking me his question not in my capacity as Minister for Tourism, but as Acting Minister for State Development. Is that right? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : My question is in accordance with the standing orders - it is standing order 78 regarding questions. Mr M. McGOWAN : My position on uranium mining is clear. I do not support uranium mining in Western Australia. This government has expressed its point of view very well and very clearly. I am sure the public of Western Australia understand that point. What is the position of the member for Leschenault on this matter? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Why do you allow and encourage exploration if you don’t support mining? Wow! Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.
(2) Does the minister support exploration for uranium in Western Australia? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I think the member for Leschenault is asking me his question not in my capacity as Minister for Tourism, but as Acting Minister for State Development. Is that right? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : My question is in accordance with the standing orders - it is standing order 78 regarding questions. Mr M. McGOWAN : My position on uranium mining is clear. I do not support uranium mining in Western Australia. This government has expressed its point of view very well and very clearly. I am sure the public of Western Australia understand that point. What is the position of the member for Leschenault on this matter? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Why do you allow and encourage exploration if you don’t support mining? Wow! Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) I think the member for Leschenault is asking me his question not in my capacity as Minister for Tourism, but as Acting Minister for State Development. Is that right? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : My question is in accordance with the standing orders - it is standing order 78 regarding questions. Mr M. McGOWAN : My position on uranium mining is clear. I do not support uranium mining in Western Australia. This government has expressed its point of view very well and very clearly. I am sure the public of Western Australia understand that point. What is the position of the member for Leschenault on this matter? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Why do you allow and encourage exploration if you don’t support mining? Wow! Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.
(1)-(2) I think the member for Leschenault is asking me his question not in my capacity as Minister for Tourism, but as Acting Minister for State Development. Is that right? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : My question is in accordance with the standing orders - it is standing order 78 regarding questions. Mr M. McGOWAN : My position on uranium mining is clear. I do not support uranium mining in Western Australia. This government has expressed its point of view very well and very clearly. I am sure the public of Western Australia understand that point. What is the position of the member for Leschenault on this matter? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Why do you allow and encourage exploration if you don’t support mining? Wow! Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : My question is in accordance with the standing orders - it is standing order 78 regarding questions. Mr M. McGOWAN : My position on uranium mining is clear. I do not support uranium mining in Western Australia. This government has expressed its point of view very well and very clearly. I am sure the public of Western Australia understand that point. What is the position of the member for Leschenault on this matter? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Why do you allow and encourage exploration if you don’t support mining? Wow! Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.
Mr M. McGOWAN : My position on uranium mining is clear. I do not support uranium mining in Western Australia. This government has expressed its point of view very well and very clearly. I am sure the public of Western Australia understand that point. What is the position of the member for Leschenault on this matter? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Why do you allow and encourage exploration if you don’t support mining? Wow! Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Why do you allow and encourage exploration if you don’t support mining? Wow! Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member should tell us his position. Tell us! I issued a press release about the increase in mineral exploration. The member for Leschenault left out one important detail in his reference to the press release. In addition to the $167 million in minerals exploration, over $500 million has been spent in the past year in Western Australia on petroleum and gas exploration. What does that say? The member is attacking me and this government because we are very successful in developing this state’s economy. If the member wants to attack me and this government for being successful in developing the economy and encouraging investment, my friend should keep on doing it because he is not on a winner.

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