❓ Debate over the impact of Labor's investment in deepening the Geraldton port, with the opposition questioning its effectiveness and the government defending its contribution to iron ore exports.
AnsweredQoN 688Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OAKAJEE PORT AND RAIL PROJECT — DEFERRAL
688. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. If the Geraldton port had
not been deepened, despite the Premier's opposition, where would Mt
Gibson Iron and Gindalbie Metals Ltd export their ore from today?
688. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. If the Geraldton port had
not been deepened, despite the Premier's opposition, where would Mt
Gibson Iron and Gindalbie Metals Ltd export their ore from today?
AnswerView source ↗
What was the increased depth of the port under the MacTiernan
proposal? Does the member know how much it was deepened by?
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Can't you answer the question? Where would the ore
go today if it wasn't for what we had done?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : How much deeper was the port made?
Mr W.J. Johnston :
You failed; we succeeded!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : The
Premier is seeking clarification from the member for Cannington; the member for
Cannington does not need assistance from anybody else, on either side, in
providing that clarification.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
If it hadn't been for Labor, there would not be exports today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
How much deeper was the port made? Any idea? Any idea at all?
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Where would the ore be going? Where would the ore be going if it wasn't
for Labor?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He has no idea. The reason —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
If it wasn't for Labor, there would be no midwest iron ore.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This is a waste of time.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, if you want an answer to your question, I would suggest
that you remain silent and enable the Premier to answer that question. If you
are not willing to accept that offer, member for Cannington, I will move to
another question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think around $110 million was spent by Labor to try to deepen the Geraldton
port. As has been known for decades, the problem with the Geraldton port is
that it is surrounded by the town; it is a town port, so we have to think about
residents, for a start. The other problem is that the base is hard rock. That
is the problem with Geraldton port. It has been looked at repeatedly since the
1960s, and if we look at the cost blow-out on that project, it was because of
the hard rock under the port. At the end of the day, what was to be a deepening
that would allow at least fully laden panamax vessels was never delivered. If
the member thinks that we can deliver a world-class competitive iron ore
industry without panamax vessels, I am telling him that it will not happen. It
would have been better —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Why don't you answer the question I asked?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am telling the member! He cannot even tell me by how much the port was
deepened. He does not know.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Ore would be going out.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Oh, congratulations. It was all your success, was it? The most successful person
in Western Australian politics—that's you, is it? Geraldton
port —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members, I think there has possibly been an adequate explanation to the
supplementary question. I am going to sit down and seek another call.
proposal? Does the member know how much it was deepened by?
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Can't you answer the question? Where would the ore
go today if it wasn't for what we had done?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : How much deeper was the port made?
Mr W.J. Johnston :
You failed; we succeeded!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : The
Premier is seeking clarification from the member for Cannington; the member for
Cannington does not need assistance from anybody else, on either side, in
providing that clarification.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
If it hadn't been for Labor, there would not be exports today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
How much deeper was the port made? Any idea? Any idea at all?
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Where would the ore be going? Where would the ore be going if it wasn't
for Labor?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He has no idea. The reason —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
If it wasn't for Labor, there would be no midwest iron ore.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This is a waste of time.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, if you want an answer to your question, I would suggest
that you remain silent and enable the Premier to answer that question. If you
are not willing to accept that offer, member for Cannington, I will move to
another question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think around $110 million was spent by Labor to try to deepen the Geraldton
port. As has been known for decades, the problem with the Geraldton port is
that it is surrounded by the town; it is a town port, so we have to think about
residents, for a start. The other problem is that the base is hard rock. That
is the problem with Geraldton port. It has been looked at repeatedly since the
1960s, and if we look at the cost blow-out on that project, it was because of
the hard rock under the port. At the end of the day, what was to be a deepening
that would allow at least fully laden panamax vessels was never delivered. If
the member thinks that we can deliver a world-class competitive iron ore
industry without panamax vessels, I am telling him that it will not happen. It
would have been better —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Why don't you answer the question I asked?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am telling the member! He cannot even tell me by how much the port was
deepened. He does not know.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Ore would be going out.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Oh, congratulations. It was all your success, was it? The most successful person
in Western Australian politics—that's you, is it? Geraldton
port —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members, I think there has possibly been an adequate explanation to the
supplementary question. I am going to sit down and seek another call.
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