❓ Opposition questions the Premier's handling of the iron ore boom, suggesting a failure to adequately prepare for potential price declines despite warnings in budget risk assessments. The Premier defends the government's economic record and accuses the opposition of being anti-development.
AnsweredQoN 777Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
IRON ORE EXPORT VOLUMES — PREMIER'S
COMMENTS
777. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. In
light of the fact that every single statement of risk in every budget the
Premier's government has produced highlights the possibility of a
decline in the iron ore price, why is it that the Premier did not warn BHP back
in April 2014 when he was celebrating the opening of the Jimblebar mine?
COMMENTS
777. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. In
light of the fact that every single statement of risk in every budget the
Premier's government has produced highlights the possibility of a
decline in the iron ore price, why is it that the Premier did not warn BHP back
in April 2014 when he was celebrating the opening of the Jimblebar mine?
AnswerView source ↗
As the Treasurer said, if anyone
knew the iron ore price into the future with certainty, they would not waste
their time being a member of Parliament!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Well, you shouldn't have spent all the money, should
you?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : What is it? Is the opposition against development?
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I think it is.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Opposition members can pick any part of Western Australia,
and I can point to a major project this government has underway.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : You're an idiot!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am an idiot, am I?
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Member for
Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. I ask you to withdraw that
statement.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I am sorry; I
was not aware that calling somebody an idiot had been decided as being
unparliamentary, but if it is, I withdraw.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : History will show that during the course of this decade,
under the Liberal–National government, iron ore production doubled, LNG
production trebled, and the state economy grew by an enormous amount.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do not know why the opposition is so upset about that: Gorgon, Wheatstone, Ord
River, Pilbara iron ore mines—it goes on and on. This is one of the
great periods of economic development in Western Australia's history.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Joondalup —
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, Premier; I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
knew the iron ore price into the future with certainty, they would not waste
their time being a member of Parliament!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Well, you shouldn't have spent all the money, should
you?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : What is it? Is the opposition against development?
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I think it is.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Opposition members can pick any part of Western Australia,
and I can point to a major project this government has underway.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : You're an idiot!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am an idiot, am I?
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Member for
Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. I ask you to withdraw that
statement.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I am sorry; I
was not aware that calling somebody an idiot had been decided as being
unparliamentary, but if it is, I withdraw.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : History will show that during the course of this decade,
under the Liberal–National government, iron ore production doubled, LNG
production trebled, and the state economy grew by an enormous amount.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do not know why the opposition is so upset about that: Gorgon, Wheatstone, Ord
River, Pilbara iron ore mines—it goes on and on. This is one of the
great periods of economic development in Western Australia's history.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Joondalup —
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, Premier; I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
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