[Greens-Media] PARNELL: Foley needs to learn 'when to hold 'em'

[Parnell]

Media Release
Tuesday 11th May 2010

Foley needs to learn 'when to hold 'em'


The Treasurer, Kevin Foley, has exposed his poker hand over the Roxby expansion, says Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

This morning on ABC radio, the Treasurer said:

"The point is guys, is that Olympic Dam must go ahead - we don't have the luxury of debating that issue from the Government's point of view - it is a must happen project for this state.."

"The Treasurer's statement this morning, which has no doubt been repeated in private to BHP Billiton, massively weakens our State's bargaining position on the Olympic Dam expansion," said Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

"Mr Foley is currently negotiating with the world's richest resource company on the terms and conditions for the expansion.

"Of the over 4,000 public submissions on the project's EIS, including from the State Government's own scientists, many were highly critical of major aspects of the project including the location of the desalination plant, the sky-high carbon emissions, and the management of the radioactive tailings dam and waste rock pile.

"BHP Billiton now knows that any aspect of the project they declare as 'non-negotiable' will force the Rann Government to back down.

"The Treasurer, by exposing so openly his bargaining bottom line, has hamstrung his Government's ability to secure the best outcome for South Australia.

"In the immortal words of Kenny Rogers, Treasurer Foley needs to learn 'when to hold 'em," he said.



For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893



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