❓ Question regarding the McGowan government's role in Fortescue Metals Group's $3.7 billion investment in the Iron Bridge magnetite project and its impact on job creation in the Pilbara. The Minister's answer praises the investment and criticises the Liberal party's past opposition to similar projects.
AnsweredQoN 211Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY —
BUSINESS CONFIDENCE — PILBARA
211. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to creating jobs and driving activity across
the Pilbara and throughout WA. Can the minister outline to the house how today's
announcement by Fortescue Metals Group to invest $3.7 billion in its Iron
Bridge magnetite project reflects this government's record of giving
business the confidence it needs to create jobs?
BUSINESS CONFIDENCE — PILBARA
211. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to creating jobs and driving activity across
the Pilbara and throughout WA. Can the minister outline to the house how today's
announcement by Fortescue Metals Group to invest $3.7 billion in its Iron
Bridge magnetite project reflects this government's record of giving
business the confidence it needs to create jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I am very pleased to answer that
question. Today is a great day for Western Australia because Fortescue Metals
Group has announced a $3.7 million investment into a magnetite project in the
Pilbara. It will create 3 000 jobs during construction, and is expected to have
900 operational jobs when it is in full production. It is a vote of confidence
in the Western Australian Labor government.
Mr I.C. Blayney interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Geraldton!
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : It is a vote of
confidence in the policies that have been set by the Premier of this state when
he has been working with business to support these important investments. I hope
that the Liberal opposition will welcome this decision and support this
investment, because when we have been in government in the past, that has not
always been the case. We remember when the Liberal Party opposed the Gorgon
project. We remember when the then Leader of the Opposition, who went on to
become Premier, flew to Sydney to argue against Burrup Fertilisers being given
land on the Burrup Peninsula. We remember these things. We remember that the last
time Labor was in government and these important investments were being made,
the Liberal opposition undermined those investments. It has form here, ladies
and gentlemen. I want to see the Liberal Party supporting the Labor government
in our efforts to get this type of investment. I also want the Liberal Party to
acknowledge that its scare campaign on renewable energy is wrong. It is bad and
it is undermining investments in the state. We are showing that we can have
sensible climate change policies and still get major billion-dollar investments
into these important new industries. This is a great tribute to the Premier of Western
Australia. He has been able to work with FMG and its partners to get this
incredible investment into the member for Pilbara's electorate. It
shows what happens when an electorate has an effective local member. It can get
billions of dollars of investment into the community.
question. Today is a great day for Western Australia because Fortescue Metals
Group has announced a $3.7 million investment into a magnetite project in the
Pilbara. It will create 3 000 jobs during construction, and is expected to have
900 operational jobs when it is in full production. It is a vote of confidence
in the Western Australian Labor government.
Mr I.C. Blayney interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Geraldton!
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : It is a vote of
confidence in the policies that have been set by the Premier of this state when
he has been working with business to support these important investments. I hope
that the Liberal opposition will welcome this decision and support this
investment, because when we have been in government in the past, that has not
always been the case. We remember when the Liberal Party opposed the Gorgon
project. We remember when the then Leader of the Opposition, who went on to
become Premier, flew to Sydney to argue against Burrup Fertilisers being given
land on the Burrup Peninsula. We remember these things. We remember that the last
time Labor was in government and these important investments were being made,
the Liberal opposition undermined those investments. It has form here, ladies
and gentlemen. I want to see the Liberal Party supporting the Labor government
in our efforts to get this type of investment. I also want the Liberal Party to
acknowledge that its scare campaign on renewable energy is wrong. It is bad and
it is undermining investments in the state. We are showing that we can have
sensible climate change policies and still get major billion-dollar investments
into these important new industries. This is a great tribute to the Premier of Western
Australia. He has been able to work with FMG and its partners to get this
incredible investment into the member for Pilbara's electorate. It
shows what happens when an electorate has an effective local member. It can get
billions of dollars of investment into the community.
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