Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science and comes to the financial implosion of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance. The Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter is one of the biggest manganese smelters in the world, is one of the greenest—thanks to our hydropower—and is one of the largest manufacturing operations in Tasmania. The 260 workers employed at the smelter are extremely worried about their future—and with good reason, as you would know.

We now know that Mr Gupta's company, Liberty Onesteel (Primary) UK granted security over its entire holding in Liberty Bell Bay to the American vulture capital firm White Oak Global Advisors. What specific measures is the government prepared to take to ensure this vital manufacturing facility and Tasmanian employer will be protected and not ravaged and sold with no regard for Australia's national interest or the future of its employees in Tasmania?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Lambie, for your interest in this company. I know you have taken a great deal of interest in it and I know your colleague in South Australia, Mr Rex Patrick, has also taken an interest in Whyalla. The short answer is that we believe in this industry. This government has shown, by the way in which it has stepped into one of Mr Gupta's other businesses—namely the Whyalla Steelworks—that it is prepared to put its money where its mouth is in terms of supporting jobs and the 261 workers that you have talked about here and, of course, many more workers in Whyalla.

One of the reasons that we had to intervene in the Whyalla operation was that the company was in severe financial trouble. It was close to going into administration. The very fine South Australian government, led by the very fine Premier, Mr Malinauskas, worked very closely with the federal government and, again, the terrific Minister Husic, who I know you have been talking with, to ensure the long-term security and the ability of this country to continue to produce steel, which is absolutely vital to a future made in Australia. We have the same concerns for the workers in Tasmania. It's a little bit unclear to— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, first supplementary?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The South Australian Treasury estimated that the Whyalla Steelworks needs roughly $3 billion. Since then, KordaMentha have found GFG has run the Whyalla Steelworks into the ground. A variety of packages and amounts have been mentioned, ranging from $1 billion to $2.4 billion. How much Commonwealth funding will be made available to support fixing up Whyalla and, given that manganese from Liberty Bell Bay is vital in steel production, are some of these funds being considered for Liberty Bell Bay?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The short answer to your question is that, to the best of my knowledge, the funding that the state and federal governments have provided is for Whyalla. I will consult with Minister Husic to find out whether or not there is a request from the Gupta operations in Tasmania. I'm not aware of any, but that's not to say that they're not there. I'm happy to follow that up.

The priority at the moment has been Whyalla. If you can keep the Whyalla Steelworks going, as this rescue package does, that's obviously of benefit to the Tasmanian operations because, as you say, they are supplying product into Whyalla. I was up in Whyalla a few weeks ago with Premier Malinauskas. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, second supplementary?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the sorry state of the steelworks and the turmoil in global trade thanks to President Trump's tariff war, how can the government be confident that KordaMentha will find a new buyer that is also prepared to invest in the scale required to transform the now terribly degraded Whyalla Steelworks? Does the government still rule out nationalising the Whyalla Steelworks today?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Lambie for her second supplementary question. The steelworks and its associated minerals are, I believe, a long-term going concern. It was a profitable business in the way in which it was previously run. Under Mr Gupta, there have certainly been a range of issues, and you've mentioned some of them, including the fact that maintenance had not been conducted on the site. I'm confident that at the end of this process the Whyalla Steelworks will be a going concern and that there will be other businesses—

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: I was just wondering whether the government was still ruling out nationalising Whyalla. Is it on the table or is it just sitting there?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Lambie. The minister is being relevant to your question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I'm saying to you, Senator Lambie, is that I don't think that's going to be necessary, because I believe this is an ongoing— (Time expired)