[Greens-Media] PARNELL: BHP must appear before Parliament

[Parnell]

Media Release
Tuesday 18th October 2011

BHP must appear before Parliament

The Greens will move to ensure BHP Billiton appears before a compulsory select committee of Parliament examining the Roxby Indenture legislation due to be introduced today.

As a 'hybrid bill', the Olympic Dam Indenture legislation must be the subject of a select committee of either house of State Parliament. Recent 'hybrid bill' Parliamentary select committees include ones examining the Naracoorte Town Square, Lochiel Park and Prince Alfred College.

"Because of the nature of this Bill, Parliament has no choice but to hold a stand-alone select committee to examine it," said Greens Parliament Leader Mark Parnell.

"If the Parliament thinks it's important enough to hold a separate select committee and hear from witnesses about the Naracoorte Town Square, then surely the state's biggest industrial project deserves at least as much," he said.

The Greens fear the Government will try and stop the Roxby select committee from hearing from witnesses in the rush to get the Bill through Parliament.

"The choice for the Labor Government and the Liberal Opposition is: will the committee be a 5 minute farce that opens and closes in a day, or will Parliament be allowed to do its job and properly consider this Bill?" asked Mr Parnell.

The Greens are demanding the select committee hear from BHP Billiton and scientific experts.

"Despite the thousands of pages and lengthy EIS process, not once have the people of SA or Parliament had a single opportunity to directly ask BHP Billiton any questions in an accountable public forum. Every single step of the process has been behind closed doors.

"It is time, as Parliament sets to sign off on the biggest deal in South Australia's history, to finally get some straight answers on this enormous project," he said.


For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893





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