JOBS — ESPERANCE
PORT
763. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
(1) Will the
minister confirm that aims of the August 2018 decision by the McGowan
government to waive royalty payments and issue discounted port charges for the
Koolyanobbing iron ore mine's new owner, Mineral Resources Ltd,
included the preservation of jobs at the Esperance port?
(2) At the time
of announcing the decision to waive royalties and issue discounted port charges
at Esperance, was the government aware that the Southern Ports Authority would
open expressions of interest for voluntary redundancies for 18 staff based in
Esperance, as reported online by The Esperance Express on 5
September 2018 at 11.30 am?
(3) To what
extent has the policy of banning the two Yilgarn iron ore mines, which would
have generated a billion dollars in life-of-mine royalties and port charges,
contributed to the fragility of the jobs outlook in Esperance?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The decision
was made to support jobs in the Yilgarn and Esperance regions, including at
Esperance port. The continuation of iron ore exports from the former Cliffs
deposits will continue to form a significant component of throughput at
Esperance port.
(2) The
government was aware that the Southern Ports Authority would continue to
restructure its workforce. The continuation of iron ore exports through
Esperance port will reduce workforce impacts at the port.
(3) The
government's decision not to approve Mineral Resources Ltd's
proposal to mine deposits in the Helena and Aurora Ranges took into account
environmental values, economic benefits and social impacts.