❓ Question about the Oakajee project's federal funding and business case submission. Premier Barnett's response deflects, accuses the opposition of hindering development, and discusses project restructuring and ongoing discussions with stakeholders. The business case hasn't been submitted due to the project's restructuring.
AnsweredQoN 763Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OAKAJEE PROJECT — FEDERAL FUNDING
I refer to the Oakajee project that will cost state taxpayers at least $339 million for as yet uncosted common-user infrastructure. (1) Has the government finalised negotiations with the commonwealth about how the federal contribution to the project will be applied? (2) Has the Premier submitted the final business case to the commonwealth to comply with Infrastructure Australia requirements for federal funding? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Oakajee project that will cost state taxpayers at least $339 million for as yet uncosted common-user infrastructure. (1) Has the government finalised negotiations with the commonwealth about how the federal contribution to the project will be applied? (2) Has the Premier submitted the final business case to the commonwealth to comply with Infrastructure Australia requirements for federal funding? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
(1) Has the government finalised negotiations with the commonwealth about how the federal contribution to the project will be applied? (2) Has the Premier submitted the final business case to the commonwealth to comply with Infrastructure Australia requirements for federal funding? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
(2) Has the Premier submitted the final business case to the commonwealth to comply with Infrastructure Australia requirements for federal funding? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
(1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
(1) Has the government finalised negotiations with the commonwealth about how the federal contribution to the project will be applied? (2) Has the Premier submitted the final business case to the commonwealth to comply with Infrastructure Australia requirements for federal funding? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
(2) Has the Premier submitted the final business case to the commonwealth to comply with Infrastructure Australia requirements for federal funding? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
(1)–(2) I do not know why the Leader of the Opposition is so against development in our state. He just continues to denigrate an important project for this state, one that the commonwealth government has seen the merit in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Stop being a sourpuss and get on with the answer! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Why is the member for Midland so grumpy today? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, if you wish to ask questions, I will repeat what I said earlier to the member for Girrawheen. Member for Midland, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oakajee Port and Rail has the mandate for the project until the end of this year. In the meantime, discussions are taking place with the participants in Oakajee Port and Rail, with the investors in the various iron ore projects, with Mitsubishi and with Chinese government agencies. I expect that out of that the project will be restructured and proceed. Until that project is restructured and proceeds, there is nothing more than keeping the commonwealth informed. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not sent the business case yet to the commonwealth. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, because we do not have a final structure of the project. It was the Labor government that set up this absurd structure that I have had to spend the last three years trying to rearrange. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You are messing up another project! You nearly lost James Price — Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition still does not get it, does he? When the biggest customer, and the customer for Oakajee, is China, the Labor government took Chinese interests out of a potential project and lined up Japan against China—and opposition members wonder why it has been difficult! In fact, there is a bit of a view around that that was a politically based decision by the Labor government. Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What an outrageous assertion! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think it might have been a politically based decision. Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : How ridiculous! For what reason? What is your evidence for that? Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr M. McGowan : What possible reason? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are a few rumours around that it was politically based. I would not add currency to those other than to say that they are out there. However — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I would like question time to proceed. I formally call you to order for the first time today, member for Cannington. Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of the common-user infrastructure, which is basically the port and the channel and a few other bits and pieces around the port, that facility will be owned by the Western Australian government, as are other ports, and it will be administered and managed through the Geraldton Port Authority. Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : How is the commonwealth contribution going to be applied? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It will be a state-owned asset to which the commonwealth has agreed to contribute. Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Will they have ownership rights at all or an equity return? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is up to the commonwealth. If it wants to have a share of the ownership, obviously it would be entitled to do that. I doubt that it will do that. I think that it will see this as a grant towards the development of infrastructure that will be state-owned and therefore publicly owned.
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