Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I advise as follows. The Whyalla steelworks is a key supplier of steel for many Australian rail projects, including our $10 billion Inland Rail project. The Inland Rail is a great national infrastructure project that reflects our ongoing commitment to nation building and to improving our transport and freight networks.

I can provide some clarity on the contracts awarded so far. In July 2019, the Australian Rail Track Corporation awarded a $31 million contract to GFG, which of course owns the Whyalla steelworks, to supply steel rail for the next stage of Inland Rail construction—considerably more than the Liberty steel contract that the senator referred to. I also point out that this builds on the $20 million contract awarded to GFG in December 2017 to supply the Parkes-to-Narromine section of Inland Rail.