❓ Mr. Redman questions the Premier about preferential treatment for Collie workers in the Greenbushes lithium mine expansion, while the Premier defends the government's support for Collie's economy and the transition of its workforce.
AnsweredQoN 13Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LITHIUM MINING —
GREENBUSHES
13. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Premier:
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Mr Speaker,
you have known me for so long!
The SPEAKER : I know. It is
time to go!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I refer to
the comments by the Minister for Regional Development to ABC South West WA in
which she confirmed the government was actively pressuring Talison Lithium to
employ up to 350 workers from Collie as part of the Greenbushes mine expansion.
(1) What does the Premier say to the communities of
Pemberton, Manjimup, Nannup, Bridgetown, Boyup Brook, Donnybrook and
Balingup about the minister playing favourites in the highly contested jobs
market?
(2) Can the
Premier confirm that his government is funding a bus to take workers from Collie
to the lithium mine to support Collie's economy?
GREENBUSHES
13. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Premier:
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Mr Speaker,
you have known me for so long!
The SPEAKER : I know. It is
time to go!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I refer to
the comments by the Minister for Regional Development to ABC South West WA in
which she confirmed the government was actively pressuring Talison Lithium to
employ up to 350 workers from Collie as part of the Greenbushes mine expansion.
(1) What does the Premier say to the communities of
Pemberton, Manjimup, Nannup, Bridgetown, Boyup Brook, Donnybrook and
Balingup about the minister playing favourites in the highly contested jobs
market?
(2) Can the
Premier confirm that his government is funding a bus to take workers from Collie
to the lithium mine to support Collie's economy?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. The first thing that I would say to people
is: is it not great that this government secured this project? Is it not great
that these projects were secured by us? I went to Washington—I remember
it well—and met with Albemarle, who are actually putting in place the
major processing plant in Kemerton, as opposed to the mine, which is in
Greenbushes. I met with the CEO of the company, who was from South Carolina. We
had long, engaged discussions over a long period of time about approvals and
the like. The major project, which is obviously the plant in Kemerton, was
committed to. We are pleased that that billion dollar-plus investment is now
occurring. Prior to the state election we announced the Collie Futures fund.
The futures fund is about making sure that we keep Collie as a strong,
prosperous community. Obviously, the situation is changing around the world in
relation to coal. Collie has powered Western Australia for 120-plus years. For
120-plus years' people have been in the mines powering our state in
that community. Generations of people have been doing hard, backbreaking work
underground in coal mines. The member for Collie was an underground miner who
did that hard, backbreaking and often dangerous work. Generations of people in
Collie have undertaken this work. What we said is that we want to retain Collie
and surrounds as a strong, prosperous community. We basically announced $80 million towards measures that would support
the economy and the community of Collie. That, I think, is a fair thing
to do. The total value of what this government committed to that broader
community is around $160 million in hospitals, schools and roads.
Point of Order
Mr D.T.
REDMAN : Mr Speaker, I ask you to bring the Premier back to the
question that was asked.
The SPEAKER : At what point of
order?
Mr D.T. REDMAN : The Premier
is not responding to the question about Collie workers being bussed down to
Greenbushes in support of the Collie economy.
The SPEAKER : I think he is.
He has explained it. Premier, I am sure you will get back to the point.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : We announced
an $80 million fund and around another $80 million worth of commitments to the
broader community in that area. Last week we went down and opened the school
upgrades at Collie Senior High School, which was well received by the
community.
Mr M.P. Murray : Which was
promised in 2013.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It was
promised in 2013 by the former government, and not delivered. We delivered
that. What we have done, and I have said this to the companies, is that
obviously there is a large, industrial workforce in Collie. Some people are
transitioning, and in particular are being laid off, by some of the coalmining
companies. There has been the sort of phase down, if you like, of Muja C that
will take place over the next few years. There are people available who are
trained tradespeople and are used to working in an industrial environment who
could work in a lithium industry. What is wrong with that? Why should I not say
that? Why should we not promote these people to this industry? These people are
mine workers. Why should they not work in another mine? Honestly, that member's
small mindedness is absolutely disgraceful.
thank the member for the question. The first thing that I would say to people
is: is it not great that this government secured this project? Is it not great
that these projects were secured by us? I went to Washington—I remember
it well—and met with Albemarle, who are actually putting in place the
major processing plant in Kemerton, as opposed to the mine, which is in
Greenbushes. I met with the CEO of the company, who was from South Carolina. We
had long, engaged discussions over a long period of time about approvals and
the like. The major project, which is obviously the plant in Kemerton, was
committed to. We are pleased that that billion dollar-plus investment is now
occurring. Prior to the state election we announced the Collie Futures fund.
The futures fund is about making sure that we keep Collie as a strong,
prosperous community. Obviously, the situation is changing around the world in
relation to coal. Collie has powered Western Australia for 120-plus years. For
120-plus years' people have been in the mines powering our state in
that community. Generations of people have been doing hard, backbreaking work
underground in coal mines. The member for Collie was an underground miner who
did that hard, backbreaking and often dangerous work. Generations of people in
Collie have undertaken this work. What we said is that we want to retain Collie
and surrounds as a strong, prosperous community. We basically announced $80 million towards measures that would support
the economy and the community of Collie. That, I think, is a fair thing
to do. The total value of what this government committed to that broader
community is around $160 million in hospitals, schools and roads.
Point of Order
Mr D.T.
REDMAN : Mr Speaker, I ask you to bring the Premier back to the
question that was asked.
The SPEAKER : At what point of
order?
Mr D.T. REDMAN : The Premier
is not responding to the question about Collie workers being bussed down to
Greenbushes in support of the Collie economy.
The SPEAKER : I think he is.
He has explained it. Premier, I am sure you will get back to the point.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : We announced
an $80 million fund and around another $80 million worth of commitments to the
broader community in that area. Last week we went down and opened the school
upgrades at Collie Senior High School, which was well received by the
community.
Mr M.P. Murray : Which was
promised in 2013.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It was
promised in 2013 by the former government, and not delivered. We delivered
that. What we have done, and I have said this to the companies, is that
obviously there is a large, industrial workforce in Collie. Some people are
transitioning, and in particular are being laid off, by some of the coalmining
companies. There has been the sort of phase down, if you like, of Muja C that
will take place over the next few years. There are people available who are
trained tradespeople and are used to working in an industrial environment who
could work in a lithium industry. What is wrong with that? Why should I not say
that? Why should we not promote these people to this industry? These people are
mine workers. Why should they not work in another mine? Honestly, that member's
small mindedness is absolutely disgraceful.
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