Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 22 March 2011 THE SPEAKER (Mr G.A. Woodhams) took the chair at 2.00 pm, and read prayers. JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA — VISIT BY PREMIER Statement by Premier MR C.J. BARNETT (Cottesloe — Premier) [2.01 pm]: I wish to report on my recent visit to Japan and South Korea from 5 to 12 March. As acknowledged by this house previously, Japan experienced its largest earthquake on record on 11 March. Tragically, more than 10 000 people have been killed by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Western Australia has a long-established relationship both with Japan and South Korea. This was particularly evident in Japan, with the celebration of the 30-year anniversary of our sister state relationship with Hyogo Prefecture. A key element of the celebration was the Western Australian government’s gift of four koalas. I presented the koalas to the Governor of Hyogo Prefecture at the Awaji Farm Park on Sunday, 6 March. This event received extensive coverage by Japanese media and was extremely well received throughout Japan. Notwithstanding the importance of the celebrations, the primary purpose of the visit was to further strengthen our trade and investment relationship with both countries. In Japan, I met with the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and also the leader of the opposition party, who is the President of the Liberal Democratic Party. I also met with key senior executives from Inpex Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Nippon Steel Corporation, Mitsui and Co Ltd, Japan Steel Mills and the Flour Millers Association of Japan. I addressed an investment luncheon hosted by the Australian Ambassador to Japan, which included senior executives from 13 major companies. I also visited a Mitsubishi waste management plant in Tokyo that processes domestic rubbish and produces renewable energy. This technology may prove to be suitable for use in Western Australia in due course. My visit to South Korea included a courtesy meeting with the South Korean Prime Minister and meetings with key senior executives from STX Group, Hyundai Steel, Korea Gas Corporation, Pohang Iron and Steel Company, Samsung C&T and GS Construction. During all meetings I outlined further opportunities that exist in Western Australia in infrastructure developments, resources, petroleum, and food and agriculture. In addition I encouraged companies involved in existing or planned projects to work with our local industry to form alliances where possible with our local manufacturers and fabricators. The Department of State Development is currently arranging meetings between the companies and our local fabricators. The main feedback items from meetings in both countries included an appreciation of the historical and ongoing contribution that Western Australia has made and continues to make to their economies. Japan and South Korea also expressed a need to secure additional long-term supplies of iron ore and liquefied natural gas. Most companies are competing with rapidly growing Chinese demand for these commodities. As a result, they are very keen to see the planned expansions in iron ore and liquefied natural gas production in Western Australia proceed as quickly as possible. The issue of food supply security was also highlighted as a major concern as neither South Korea nor Japan is self-sufficient in this area. This visit confirmed that Western Australia is well regarded amongst industry and government in Japan and South Korea. It highlighted opportunities for Western Australia to significantly expand its trade and investment links in both countries. These opportunities are not based solely on resources and petroleum; they also include food and agriculture as well as education and tourism. WARMUN COMMUNITY — FLOOD DAMAGE Statement by Deputy Premier DR K.D. HAMES (Dawesville — Deputy Premier) [2.04 pm]: The state government has dedicated $500 000 as an initial sum to coordinate the recovery of the Warmun community in the East Kimberley following extensive damage sustained during floods earlier this month. Funding will be allocated to the newly formed Warmun Aboriginal Community Re-establishment Taskforce. It will coordinate recovery efforts to rebuild housing and infrastructure damaged during the floods. The damage at Warmun is still being evaluated; however, it is estimated that, of 65 public houses, at least 30 were severely damaged and will require demolition, while the remainder are uninhabitable. Some houses were completely lost in the floodwaters; others are able to be repaired and refurbished. I remind the house that the flooding experienced by the Warmun community and generally throughout much of the Kimberley resulted in the region being declared a disaster area. All members of the Warmun community were evacuated shortly after the floods and are currently being housed at the Ord stage 2 camp in Kununurra. 1774 [ASSEMBLY — Tuesday, 22 March 2011] Our priority is to rebuild Warmun to allow community members to return to their homes as soon as possible. Due to the severe nature of the damage and the remote location of Warmun, we know this will take careful coordination, and that will be made possible with this task force. The task force will be chaired by Kimberley Development Commission chief executive, Jeff Gooding, and will include representatives nominated by directors general from the Departments of Indigenous Affairs, Housing and Child Protection. It will also include relevant additional members from the state and federal governments, local government, and the Warmun Aboriginal community. Support will be provided to the task force through the Aboriginal Affairs Coordinating Committee. The initial $500 000 in funding will also be used to ensure that community members who have been evacuated have access to training, education, clothing and skills development. “PILBARA PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK” Statement by Minister for Planning MR J.H.D. DAY (Kalamunda — Minister for Planning) [2.06 pm]: The Pilbara region is of great significance to Western Australia and the nation. In recognition of this, I was pleased to release the draft “Pilbara Planning and Infrastructure Framework” for public advertising recently. By guiding development in the Pilbara region, this new planning framework is set to transform the region’s communities and boost its status as the nation’s economic powerhouse. The Pilbara is on the threshold of another period of significant expansion, and this framework will ensure that development and change over the next 25 years is achieved in a way that improves people’s lives and enhances its unique character and environment. By 2035, we expect a resident population of around 140 000 in the Pilbara region, supported by a diverse economy that will capitalise on the region’s competitive advantages. This framework addresses the scale and distribution of future population growth, housing development and priority infrastructure needs over the next five years. It has a strong link to the Liberal–National government’s Pilbara Cities initiative, which seeks to expand the resident population and rectify infrastructure inadequacies in settlements across the region. Infrastructure capacity is currently a significant inhibitor to urban development in some towns. The framework will guide government on infrastructure priorities across the Pilbara, and give the private sector more confidence to invest in the region. The document identifies strategies to address economic growth, environmental issues, transport, infrastructure, water resources, tourism, and the emerging impacts of climate change. The sustainability of the region will be determined by the strengths of its communities, the liveability of its towns, appreciation of its natural and cultural values, economic diversification and self-sufficiency, and the level of services the region can attract. More affordable housing, greater housing choice and access to higher standards of education, health, recreation and other community services will result in many fly in, fly out workers choosing to live in the Pilbara on a more permanent basis. Importantly, the Pilbara’s natural and cultural heritage assets, such as its coastline, Karijini National Park and Burrup Peninsula, will be conserved and celebrated under the framework. The “Pilbara Planning and Infrastructure Framework” offers a positive response to many of the opportunities and challenges facing the region. Further work, including the “Pilbara Infrastructure Implementation Plan”, which is already underway, will provide more detail on infrastructure requirements for the Pilbara. A 60-day comment period is now open on the draft framework, with submissions closing on 9 May. The final version is expected to be released later this year, and the document can be downloaded from the Department of Planning website. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE OAKAJEE PROJECT — COST BLOW-OUTS 127. Mr E.S. RIPPER to the Premier: (1) The Premier’s Infrastructure Australia submission states — The Oakajee port and rail project involves direct infrastructure spending of approximately $3.5 billion. Does the Premier stand by that statement? (2) Does the Premier stand by his Infrastructure Australia submission, which states that the port’s common- user infrastructure will cost $678 million? (3) If the Premier stands by those statements, why are the proponents seeking extra capital from the government and elsewhere to cover their cost blow-outs? (4) Following the Premier’s inadequate explanation during last Thursday’s question time, can he now explain why and under what circumstances the state has an obligation to pay the Oakajee proponents $78 million if the project does not proceed? [ASSEMBLY — Tuesday, 22 March 2011] 1775 Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) This is a private project. The information that was used in the submission to Infrastructure Australia was based on the estimates of the cost — Mr E.S. Ripper: Have you seen this headline, “Oakajee faces huge cost blowout”? Mr C.J. BARNETT: It is nice to have a photograph in the newspaper! It was based on the estimates of the cost of the project as it was seen, and at that stage, the so-called common- user infrastructure was estimated at $556 million.