Resources Minister John Bowler has been challenged by opposition claims his ties to controversial lobbyists Brian Burke and Julian Grill have jeopardised Western Australia's bid for a $2 billion radio telescope.
The full text of an announcement from Shadow Science Minister Barry House is pasted below
Western Australia's bid for the Square Kilometre Array telescope has been jeopardised by the Carpenter Government's tight relationship with Brian Burke and Julian Grill.
Shadow Science Minister Barry House said the fact Mr Burke and Mr Grill had been able to convince the Carpenter Government to put a road through the "radio-quiet" zone proposed in WA's bid for the $2 billion SKA project was extremely disappointing.
In State Parliament yesterday, Resources Minister John Bowler admitted that he had been lobbied by Mr Grill to approve the road that will be carrying trucks through the "radio quiet" zone at Miluera Station as early as next week:
"Murchison Metals was one of the 10 companies that I was contacted about; I was contacted by Julian Grill. It mainly involved the transport of ore past Mileura, through to Cue and into Geraldton. I am glad to say that we resolved that issue, and Murchison Metals will start mining and producing wealth and jobs for Western Australians tomorrow."
"Once again this Government is showing us that favours for friends precede the bigger picture in Western Australia - and this time it's the science industry that is being threatened," Mr House said.
"On one hand we have our Science Minister lauding the prospect of winning the bid for the project, and on the other we have Mr Burke and Mr Grill lobbying for an $18 million road to go straight through the 'radio quiet' zone.
"The SKA international radio project would involve 17 countries in the construction of the world's biggest telescope.
"It is unfortunate that WA's involvement in a project of this significance and size has been compromised by the Carpenter Government's close relationship with Mr Burke and Mr Grill.
"Western Australia was the clear favourite to play a part in this international project. The fact that the Carpenter Government is prepared to compromise its involvement is indicative of the Carpenter Government's strong links with Burke and Julian Grill."
