❓ Opposition Leader Ripper questions Premier Barnett about cost blow-outs in the Oakajee project and alleged interference, particularly regarding a preference clause for Chinese jobs. Barnett deflects, focusing on cost issues at the Jack Hills mine, separate from the port and rail agreement.
AnsweredQoN 112Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OAKAJEE PROJECT — COST BLOW-OUTS
(1) Has the Oakajee project been forced to seek additional capital as a result of cost blow-outs? (2) Has the Premier’s clumsy interference in this project, including his preference clause for Chinese jobs, risked the failure of this project, just as the Premier failed with his attempt at Oakajee in the 1990s? Mr C.J. BARNETT
(1) Has the Oakajee project been forced to seek additional capital as a result of cost blow-outs? (2) Has the Premier’s clumsy interference in this project, including his preference clause for Chinese jobs, risked the failure of this project, just as the Premier failed with his attempt at Oakajee in the 1990s? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) If nothing else, at least I had a go! The cost blow-out that I think the Leader of the Opposition is referring to is probably on the Jack Hills mine, which is a very large but very difficult and expensive ore body to access. I think that is what the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the port project itself? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
(2) Has the Premier’s clumsy interference in this project, including his preference clause for Chinese jobs, risked the failure of this project, just as the Premier failed with his attempt at Oakajee in the 1990s? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) If nothing else, at least I had a go! The cost blow-out that I think the Leader of the Opposition is referring to is probably on the Jack Hills mine, which is a very large but very difficult and expensive ore body to access. I think that is what the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the port project itself? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) If nothing else, at least I had a go! The cost blow-out that I think the Leader of the Opposition is referring to is probably on the Jack Hills mine, which is a very large but very difficult and expensive ore body to access. I think that is what the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the port project itself? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
(1)–(2) If nothing else, at least I had a go! The cost blow-out that I think the Leader of the Opposition is referring to is probably on the Jack Hills mine, which is a very large but very difficult and expensive ore body to access. I think that is what the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the port project itself? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
(2) Has the Premier’s clumsy interference in this project, including his preference clause for Chinese jobs, risked the failure of this project, just as the Premier failed with his attempt at Oakajee in the 1990s? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) If nothing else, at least I had a go! The cost blow-out that I think the Leader of the Opposition is referring to is probably on the Jack Hills mine, which is a very large but very difficult and expensive ore body to access. I think that is what the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the port project itself? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) If nothing else, at least I had a go! The cost blow-out that I think the Leader of the Opposition is referring to is probably on the Jack Hills mine, which is a very large but very difficult and expensive ore body to access. I think that is what the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the port project itself? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
(1)–(2) If nothing else, at least I had a go! The cost blow-out that I think the Leader of the Opposition is referring to is probably on the Jack Hills mine, which is a very large but very difficult and expensive ore body to access. I think that is what the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the port project itself? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think the Leader of the Opposition has actually got it wrong. The blow-out, if there is a blow-out, is primarily around the Jack Hills mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr E.S. Ripper : So you are saying there is no blow-out on the project? The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is where the blow-out is. We obviously support Jack Hills, and Weld Range and Karara and all the other mines in the area. But the Jack Hills mine is not part of the Oakajee Port and Rail agreement with the state government. It is entirely separate. They have a common ownership, but it is a mining project, like any other mining project. The agreement with the state is about the development of the railway and the port infrastructure. Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr E.S. Ripper : So is that part of the project on budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No—well, sorry. Okay. Now we are back to what we should be talking about, which is a part of the agreement. The mine is nothing to do with the government. Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr E.S. Ripper : You mentioned the mine. I did not mention the mine. I asked you whether the project is seeking additional funding. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is because the articles in the media have been about the cost blow-out on the mine. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr E.S. Ripper : I am not basing it on that. I am asking you a specific question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No point, Mr Speaker!
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