barnett supports yilgarn

The board and management of GWR are doing an outstanding job, with the China Inc alliance, strategic investment in Yilgarn and WA state liberal concerns in regards to the OP&R tender process the future looks assured.

Yilgarn is an Australian owned-company (GWR 20%) with in part financial backing from China.

GWR is destined to be a mining and infrastructure (rail and port) cash flow derived company.

Corporate activity by predators now must be imminent.

Buy Buy Bye GWR
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Chalpat Sonti

October 1, 2008

Opposition leader Eric Ripper has accused Premier Colin Barnett of making "a mockery" of the tender process by calling for greater government involvement in the Oakajee port proposal.

Mr Barnett said yesterday he wanted stronger government involvement in the way the port was developed, saying he wanted greater Australian interest in the port, which is slated to be built about 25km north of Geraldton.

He was critical of the way the previous government had handled the tender process for the $1.5 billion project, which Mr Barnett said had pitched the state's two major trading partners - Japan and China - against each other. The Japanese-backed Oakajee Port and Rail was awarded the tender ahead of the Chinese-backed Yilgarn Infrastructure.

But Mr Ripper said the tender process, which Mr Barnett had "made a mockery" of, ensured the investment community could have confidence in the outcome.

"Now (Mr Barnett) is undermining that process and threatening government intervention," Mr Ripper said.

"It is a risky recipe for delay and uncertainty and comes at a time when business confidence is threatened by the international financial crisis."

The state government will retain ownership of the port, channel, breakwater and turning basins.

The port would help unlock the mineral wealth of the Mid West once built, Mr Ripper said.

He would brief Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Perth this afternoon where he would emphasise the strategic importance of Oakajee and other WA infrastructure projects, Mr Ripper said. Mr Rudd is in town for the Council of Australian Governments meeting tomorrow.

"Critical infrastructure must be at the top of (Mr Barnett's) list of priorities in COAG discussions. He must adopt a more modern approach to government and stop undermining the certainty of such major projects," Mr Ripper said.

"During the election campaign the Liberal Party endorsed Labor's infrastructure program but it now appears to be paving the way to discard it project by project."

Mr Barnett said yesterday he would raise infrastructure issues when he met Mr Rudd.