Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

Senator, thank you for that question. I know this is the states house, but I would not pit Australians against each other on these questions. Investment in South Australia, which is a very good investment—it's very important to take that facility away from its owner, who was running it into the ground, against our national interest and industrial capability—is a good thing for Australia and a good thing for South Australians. It maintains our iron- and steel-making capability in Australia while we build for the future.

You are right to point to Western Australia's enormous potential advantage here. What this government is trying to do is achieve two objectives—all of them opposed by the Liberals and Nationals, and Lord knows what the One Nation party's position is on these questions. We are for a future made in Australia for this sector, and we're doing it for two reasons. One is to secure future iron production in Australia and move up the value chain to secure good jobs.