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The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: My question is directed to the Minister for Ports and Waterways. Why did the New South Wales Government and the Newcastle Port Corporation not wait until after the release of the expansion plans for Port Botany, including the release of the commission of inquiry report in addition to the announced upgrade plans for Port Kembla, before closing tenders for the Newcastle multipurpose terminal?
The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: That is a rather confusing question. I think it displays the Coalition's lack of knowledge of the multipurpose terminal [MPT] and the expansion of Port Botany. If those opposite had a policy on ports, shipping, Port Botany or Port Kembla they might tell someone. But they do not have anything. As honourable members will be well aware, Port Botany has been earmarked as a port precinct since the 1970s and the announcement of its expansion pretty much completes what will happen at the port. It is a mistake to connect the MPT with the expansion of Port Botany. The process of examining the two tenders for the MPT has been going on for many months, as the Leader of the Opposition would be well aware. That process is undertaken independently by the Newcastle Port Corporation, which had to choose the best process and the best outcome for the people of Newcastle. It is a complete furphy to connect the two. The process for the expansion of Port Botany that led to the final analysis was completely independent of the assessment—as the Leader of the Opposition should know.
I note that the Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting at the table sucking on the end of his pen, has been silent on the MPT even though there was a conference in Newcastle. The Opposition has said nothing about Port Botany except for the comments of the former Leader of the Opposition. Those opposite are absolutely silent about the incompetence of their Federal colleagues regarding the $200 million Customs fiasco that has massively damaged businesses in New South Wales to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Incidentally, that farcical computer system still does not work properly. The Opposition has been dead silent about that. Opposition members have not said a thing about the many businesses in New South Wales that have suffered, and they have been dead silent on the MPT. The Opposition is dead silent on all of those issues because when it comes to ports and shipping it has no policies whatsoever.
The Leader of the Opposition will be well aware of public announcements by the Newcastle Port Corporation that it is continuing to look at other opportunities for that site. We will make some announcements about that. If the Leader of the Opposition had been listening yesterday he would know that Newcastle is maintaining its place as the premier coal export port in the world. If only he had bothered to listen.
The PRESIDENT: Order! I call the Hon. Robyn Parker to order.
The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: If the Leader of the Opposition had bothered to listen during question time yesterday, instead of sitting there chewing on his pen—which is the extent of his policy development in this area—he would know that Sensation Yachts, which is one of the top 10 luxury yacht builders in the world, is basing itself in Newcastle. But the Leader of the Opposition does not listen.
The PRESIDENT: Order! I call the Minister for Finance to order.
The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: The Leader of the Opposition never makes any contribution.