Sean Edwards SA, Liberal Party
2:56 pm
My question is to the Minister for Finance and representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to information obtained under freedom of information from the South Australian government on Olympic Dam that shows that $1.1 billion of economic activity will be lost and 5,000 jobs forgone over the next three years, while 25,000 jobs were to be created over the life of the project. What message does the minister have for the people of South Australia, where unemployment recently rose to 5.7 per cent and as high as 9.4 per cent in some electorates, like Wakefield?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
I think I was asked almost precisely the same question when I was representing the Minister for Climate Change, and the response I gave there in answer to—
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
And you didn't answer it then!
Mitch Fifield Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
Did you do a runner, Penny? You make it sound so long ago!
John Hogg President
Order! I will call the minister when there is silence.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
I was asked in that question what my message is to South Australians, and I will repeat: my message to South Australians is, 'Do not believe Tony Abbott's disgraceful—
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Mr to you!
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
'Mr Abbott's disgraceful scare campaign around Olympic Dam', which I notice that you have all quietly walked away from. You were so gleeful about the Olympic Dam expansion not proceeding that you could not wait to get out there and blame the carbon tax and the mining tax—that matter which does not apply to the expansion—
Opposition senators interjecting—
Sean Edwards SA, Liberal Party
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. It is a direct point of order on relevance. I asked Minister Wong what message did she have for the people of South Australia, nothing to do with what the Leader of the Opposition had or anything to do with the same.
John Hogg President
I believe that the minister is answering the question.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
Even George would have done better than that!
I have made clear our disappointment on this side of the chamber with the fact that the Olympic Dam expansion is not proceeding—something which has not occurred on that side. What we have seen is the gleeful jumping on that decision by the Leader of the Opposition to try and make a political point. It was utterly disgraceful.
In terms of jobs, I was very pleased to join in South Australia, as the shareholder of the Australian Submarine Corporation, the Minister for Defence and the Premier, at the keel laying of the air warfare destroyers last week. These were jobs for South Australians. I am also very happy that we on this side have not jumped on the GST redistribution campaign that those opposite have. Perhaps the senator should go back to South Australia and tell South Australians that his leader supports taking a billion dollars of GST receipts off them.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
You should go to South Australia, Senator, and tell them that Mr Abbott wants to take a billion dollars out of GST— (Time expired)
Opposition senators interjecting —
Sean Edwards SA, Liberal Party
2:59 pm
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question of the minister. I refer the minister to the announcement that Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation will not proceed with a proposed plant near Whyalla due, in part, to the cancellation of the Olympic Dam project. The plant would have created 400 jobs during the $350 million construction phase and 80 jobs during the running of the plant. How many more lost jobs and lost economic activity will there be as the negative impacts of these mining and carbon taxes now build momentum through the economy?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
3:00 pm
The mining tax did not apply to the Olympic Dam project, and the senator knows that. If he cares about jobs, particularly in the northern part of South Australia, why is he supporting removal of support for the car industry? He knows what effect that would have on the northern suburbs of Adelaide.
Sean Edwards SA, Liberal Party
3:01 pm
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question of the minister. Given that ABS figures show that in the 12 months to July building approvals in South Australia plummeted by 23.6 per cent, the worst performance in mainland Australia, while early reports show that the value of construction work done over the last 12 months dropped by 14.6 per cent, also the worst performance in Australia, and new home sales fell by 8.9 per cent, the second worst performance in the nation, what is the government doing to reverse this downward trend?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
3:02 pm
I suspect Senator Edwards perhaps might want to stand for preselection for one of the seats that looks like it has become available in South Australia and stand up in the South Australian parliament.
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia
Why does she always attack the questioner?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
Oh, so sensitive, Senator! So sensitive!
Honourable senators interjecting—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
Thank you, Mr President. I have finished my answer.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.