❓ The question seeks information on potential collusion between BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto regarding iron ore export volumes and market flooding. The Minister's response avoids directly answering the questions, instead highlighting the government's role in regulating the industry and ensuring fair value for WA's mineral resources.
AnsweredQoN 796Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
IRON ORE EXPORT VOLUMES — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
796. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I refer to the Premier's
comments today during question time that he believed that BHP Billiton and Rio
Tinto were acting in concert, and statements from the Chamber of Minerals and
Energy of Western Australia to the effect that Western Australian iron ore
producers are meeting current demand in the world market.
(1) Has the
minister or his department been advised of any evidence of collusion between
BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto?
(2) Has the
minister or his department been advised of any evidence of miners flooding the
iron ore market?
796. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I refer to the Premier's
comments today during question time that he believed that BHP Billiton and Rio
Tinto were acting in concert, and statements from the Chamber of Minerals and
Energy of Western Australia to the effect that Western Australian iron ore
producers are meeting current demand in the world market.
(1) Has the
minister or his department been advised of any evidence of collusion between
BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto?
(2) Has the
minister or his department been advised of any evidence of miners flooding the
iron ore market?
AnswerView source ↗
That is a strange question from the
member for Cannington.
(1)–(2) My
role as Minister for Mines and Petroleum is to regulate the industry, which
includes iron ore. Indeed, as the Premier has already mentioned in answers to
two questions this afternoon, the state owns the minerals, and we obviously
have some duty of care to the people of Western Australia to make sure that we
get good value for them. I think the Premier has been very generous in his
response to the two questions that have been asked by the opposition already
this afternoon, and I think the Premier is perfectly right to make the comment
that we have to be careful about what price we as Western Australians get for
our commodities.
member for Cannington.
(1)–(2) My
role as Minister for Mines and Petroleum is to regulate the industry, which
includes iron ore. Indeed, as the Premier has already mentioned in answers to
two questions this afternoon, the state owns the minerals, and we obviously
have some duty of care to the people of Western Australia to make sure that we
get good value for them. I think the Premier has been very generous in his
response to the two questions that have been asked by the opposition already
this afternoon, and I think the Premier is perfectly right to make the comment
that we have to be careful about what price we as Western Australians get for
our commodities.
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