Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment (Clean Energy) Bill 2025
Second reading
Resumed from 19 August 2025.
Mrs Lorna Clarke (Butler) (12:29 pm): I am pleased to speak in support of a bill that will strengthen WA's position as a global leader in the resources sector and drive the clean energy industries of the future. I am particularly pleased to speak on this bill as, for my sins, I used to work as an in-house lawyer at Ofgem in London and the Economic Regulation Authority here in Perth, so I enjoy energy law and all things research around energy and resources. I was employed at Curtin University to teach an undergraduate energy law course as well. I also want to talk about how this area impacts on my electorate. As I have said before in this place, I see many of my constituents from Alkimos, Eglinton, Butler and Yanchep getting on and off the train on the Yanchep line and I know that they work in the resources sector not just because the mining sector is the second largest employer in my electorate—health services is the first—but also because they wear all the lovely branded polo shirts that BHP, Rio Tinto, Woodside and Mineral Resources have. It is really hard to miss—I think the east coast often does miss it—that WA is the undisputed engine room of the nation, and that is primarily because of the resources sector.
I was so pleased yesterday morning to join the Premier and the Deputy Premier; Treasurer at the Resources Technology Showcase breakfast, where we got a snapshot of the Premier's vision for the resources sector in WA. A number of companies also presented what can only be described as machines that go "bing"; they obviously brought the small machines that they could take off the very large mines up in the Pilbara and Kalgoorlie and brought them to Perth to show hundreds of schoolchildren exactly what is happening. I rushed back here so I did not get a chance to go round the showcase, which I will be sure to do next year, but I have photographs and good reports from the showcase because my nephews are in town and all of them who were not in school yesterday went along and tried out every single one of the machines. There were some very excited little boys running around and trying out those different mining machines! As I left the Perth Convention Centre, I saw a four-year-old dressed in complete high-vis, with a hard hat as well. We know the future is strong for the mining and resources sector in WA because we have so many children and young people who are interested in this industry.
Part of what this bill will do is that it will build the research base that underpins the future of the mining and resources sector here in WA. One thing I miss about being at Curtin University was the ability to sit down and spend days in the online library researching journal articles. I would have days at Curtin when no-one emailed me. I do not know whether members can relate to that. I occasionally had to check whether the email was working! Academics work on very different timeframes. They read a lot and they write a lot. I would get my seven emails a week, which is very different from what we get as members of Parliament! Research is very dear to my heart. I miss the access to the Curtin University online journals, but I think the librarians here know me by my first name now!
The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia has a long history going back to 1981, when it was originally the Western Australian Minerals and Petroleum Research Institute. It had a number of changes in focus in its research in 2003 and 2013. Part of what this bill will do is that it will expand the scope of its research to include clean energy. The mining and resources sectors are already doing this on their own initiative. Many companies are headquartered here. There was some discussion and questions at the showcase yesterday about whether BHP and Rio Tinto would relocate their headquarters to Perth, so I put my bid in now on Hansard that I think they should relocate their headquarters here, where most of their mines are. We have had some amazing research. The challenge with climate change, particularly in WA, is that it is the mining companies that will have to decarbonise, and they will all have to do it differently. They are all going to have to look at their operations and their business and innovate. What is so refreshing is that these companies are absolutely chomping at the bit to do this. They are jumping ahead and doing what they can. They are trialling new technologies and working out how to scale them and make them economic. Some of the new technologies are perfectly feasible and will work, but there will be some naysayer who says that carbon capture and storage does not work and that green iron does not work. They do work. There are projects and case studies in WA and around the world where they do work. The challenge is the economics. It comes down to the pricing models and how to make them financially viable in what are increasingly competitive global markets.
Australia has a competitive advantage in global markets in some ways. Many people see it as a disadvantage that we have such strong environmental and worker protections, but I actually look at them as an opportunity. We have an opportunity for WA to completely innovate and come up with and design new technologies. We see this in a range of areas, and particularly critical minerals. We see this in the renewables sector in terms of having renewables-powered manufacturing. This will be what Made in WA is all about. I have joked to a few people that Made in WA will actually look like a lot of tradies and a lot of electrical engineers who understand the transmission lines and the detailed processing of these plants and how we can transform the science, and often the physics, of these industries. This is the challenge that I think WA is up for and uniquely placed to take on. We have innovated before and we will do it again. One of the clearest examples of these new challenges and the new reality is green iron. Steelmaking is responsible for up to 9% of global greenhouse emissions, most of it from the iron-making process. WA is the world's largest exporter of iron ore, supplying around 38% of the global market, so where better in the world to lead the way on producing green iron than in WA.
I took my Curtin students through a range of different topics, including the electricity market, gas market, critical minerals and hydrogen. The hydrogen sector has different colours, so I had to explain the rainbow of hydrogen. I think people get a bit confused about what green iron is. Essentially, we are just lowering the greenhouse gas emissions; we are finding ways of producing what the mining sector needs with significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It is not just the reduction of emissions that we obviously have to do, with companies in Australia operating under the safeguard mechanism. It is also about value-adding to the resources that we have here at home. It is about creating good, secure jobs in the regions and our cities and developing sovereign capability in these industries. If we look at critical minerals, one of the major challenges in Australia is the supply chain. We saw this during COVID in terms of health supplies and other key sovereign risks, but we also see it with critical minerals. There can be geopolitical impacts on global supply chains, so we need to work out how to make Australia more resilient in that space. That is what we mean when we say we are developing sovereign capability in these industries.
We have some fantastic case studies in WA. In Kwinana, the NeoSmelt project is building Australia's largest electric smelting furnace using WA iron ore and renewable power. This project was specifically mentioned at the Resources Technology Showcase yesterday morning. I will take the opportunity as often as I can to do a massive shout-out to the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union and Steve McCartney for the work they have done and continue to do around the just transition in Collie. I used the just transition as a bit of a case study in the final week of my energy law course. A PhD could be written on it; if I had not entered this place, I probably would have done that. The Collie example is a world first. We can look at the research on just transition and nowhere else in the world has done it as well as we have in Collie. I do not think that is promoted and sold well enough in terms of how we are supporting workers in the transition away from coal. Essentially, individualised worker plans are used to work out exactly what training a worker needs and wants. What a worker who is 65 years of age wants will be very different from what someone who is 35 years of age wants or someone who has various transferable skills wants. They might want to do something completely different—and why not? There is this concept that working-class people will always do the same thing for the rest of their lives. We reject that.
Again, the Cook Labor government has a strong focus on training and fee-free TAFE places, which means people can retrain quite easily. It was fantastic to go to Clarkson TAFE the other week. Thank you to the skills minister and her office for facilitating that visit.
Mr Mark Folkard: It's smack in the middle of mine!
Mrs Lorna Clarke: It is in the member for Mindarie's electorate.
Many of the students drive down to the campus early in the morning from Yanchep, Two Rocks and Alkimos. They are learning to be brickies; they are learning to be sparkies. Areas that are becoming increasingly important in terms of housing are tiling and plumbing, and many of the tiling pre-apprentices and apprentices are women. There were jokes about their work being immaculate and that the boys needed to tidy up a little bit, but they were all doing an outstanding job. I encourage more young people to take up our fee-free TAFE places.
I return to examples of where we do very well in this space in the Pilbara. Again, there was a lot of discussion at the showcase about the importance of the Pilbara in WA and the scale of it, which is quite phenomenal. Fortescue is pioneering green hydrogen–powered iron production and opening up new export markets. They are the sorts of projects that the Mineral Resources Institute of WA, with its expanded remit, will be perfectly placed to support through innovation, research and the translation of ideas into commercial reality. When I was at Curtin University, I saw that academics can often spend years researching things. There are scientists who have spent years in the bowels of university campuses doing research. The challenge is to make it relevant—to take the theoretical and make it practical. One of the things I really enjoyed about the culture at Curtin University was that it is incredibly practical. They always asked the question, "Okay; how do we implement this research in the real world?" A number of clean technology institutes and researchers are driving that in WA.
The Cook Labor government has provided over $1.85 million in green iron and steel research and development funding through the institute. It is separate from and in addition to funding for the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre as well. It is through these initiatives that homegrown research has been developed into an innovative approach that benefits iron ore production, often using things like desalination waste, and researchers are basically putting WA on the map for clean metals innovation.
I was also pleased to recently visit the Alkimos desalination plant with the Premier. I received a very detailed briefing from the Water Corporation before the event. We really got down into the detail. One of the things that was so impressive about the briefing and the work that is being done at the Alkimos desalination plant is that it will have a research and development centre onsite. Water Corp is leading the world in desalination design and implementation, and it is going to work with mining companies in Western Australia to facilitate its research and help them use things like desalination waste and wastewater, and to deal with operational issues on mine sites. Research done in WA will be crucial to upgrading ore quality and unlocking our green iron and steel potential.
I am conscious of the time, and I am going do a shout-out even though the people might not be in the gallery. I have family from Germany, from Berlin, visiting, so with the indulgence of the Chair, I would like to acknowledge and put into Hansard my thanks to my brother-in-law Shaw Coleman; his wife, Katarina Coleman; their son, Elijah Coleman; another brother-in-law, Xander Coleman; and my husband, Lawrence Coleman, for coming along to be in the gallery today. They do amazing social justice work with the Salvation Army and Living Grace Dianella. So, forgive me for really veering off on the relevance point just there, but I thought I would put them into Hansard for perpetuity.
Coming back to the bill, what it will do is quite simple. It will expand the institute's scope to include clean energy and emissions reduction research alongside its minerals work. It provides clear definitions for "clean energy", "clean energy research", "emissions reduction" and "emissions reduction research" to guide work. It will expand the board by one member to ensure there is the expertise to guide its broader mission, and it will update the institute's name. I think the member for Cockburn referred to the change to the acronym. The bill will also amend the Energy Coordination Act 1994. For anyone who has worked with that legislation, thank goodness; it is an old act. Many of the energy laws in WA are quite disparate and in multiple places. You really do have to know where to look when you are looking for energy law in WA. There was a bit of a joke a few years ago that there was a project to combine all the separate pieces of energy legislation in WA into one bill. I believe it continued and you can find some of the work online. The joke in the industry was that it was one bill to rule us all! We are amending the Energy Coordination Act to avoid duplication of sustainable energy research functions and ensure our efforts are coordinated and the resources used effectively.
In conclusion, by expanding the institute's scope, we will strengthen WA's global competitiveness; we will support the development of new industries like green iron, critical minerals processing and renewable powered manufacturing; we will create well-paid, secure jobs in engineering, operations, trades, research and commercial roles; and we will open new training pathways for young Western Australians in both regional and metropolitan areas. It will drive investment to our regions to ensure communities like Collie, Kwinana and the Pilbara continue to have strong economic futures.
I am conscious of the time and other people in the chamber wanting to speak, but I could go on and talk about some of the amazing examples of projects we have before us with many of the universities—Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and Curtin University. I hope other speakers will perhaps turn to that in due course in the debate on this bill. The bill is about building the future that we want here in Western Australia, and it is a future in which WA is not only the world's mining powerhouse but also a global leader in clean energy innovation and low-emissions manufacturing. It is about making sure that industries like green iron are not opportunities that are missed but opportunities that are realised. They are opportunities to be absolutely grabbed and taken advantage of so that we lead the world in not just doing research here in WA but also exporting intellectual property and becoming the world leader in the innovation we can create through this process. It will deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for WA. The institute has been delivering results for over 40 years, and with this bill we will give it the mandate to meet the challenges for the next 40.
Mr Mark Folkard (Mindarie) (12:47 pm): I rise in support for the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment (Clean Energy) Bill 2025. I speak today about an extraordinary opportunity for Western Australia. It is an opportunity that could see our state not only strengthen its economic future but also lead the world in decarbonisation technologies. That opportunity lies in the production of green iron. At the centre of this vision is the Minerals Resource Institute of Western Australia. It is a body that has already been instrumental in driving innovation, research and practical outcomes in our resources sector. Members, it is time we expand our vision to embrace one of the most transformative prospects of the next century—that is, the shift from conventional iron ore production to green iron made here in Western Australia.
You are going to ask, "Why green iron?" As we know, traditional steelmaking accounts for—well, my research says—between 7% and 8% of global carbon emissions. The member for Butler said it was 9%. My history with research tells me it is probably around 10% of global carbon emissions. The iron and steel industry is one of the hardest sectors to abate, but with the world demanding urgent climate action, we cannot continue going down the path of carbon-intensive steelmaking. Green iron offers a solution. By replacing fossil fuel–reduction methods with renewables-powered hydrogen, we can transform our iron ore into high-value iron with almost zero emissions. It is a game changer for the planet but also for our state's economy. Why Western Australia, you may ask? No region in the world is better placed to lead transformation than Western Australia. Western Australia has world-class iron ore deposits in the Pilbara and the Mid West, abundant renewable energy potential with our wind and solar resources, strategic proximity to the growing demand in the centres of Asia and, crucially, a research and policy ecosystem through bodies like the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia that have proven we can innovate at scale.
The member for Butler referred to the NeoSmelt project in Kwinana. That is fantastic. The Collie Green Steel project in WA is the first low-emission steel recycling mill in Australia. Other countries may have iron ore and renewable energy, but very few have both in such abundance, coupled with political stability, engineering expertise and the infrastructure that we enjoy in this state.
Why Oakajee and Geraldton? Nowhere embodies this opportunity better than Oakajee and Geraldton. I know about this place because I ran Kalbarri Police Station, and Oakajee was just down the road. The Oakajee precinct has long been discussed as a deep-water port project. It is uniquely situated to become a global centre of excellence for green iron. It has immediate access to high-quality Mid West iron ore resources; exceptional wind resources along the coast, with some of the strongest in the Southern Hemisphere; space capacity for large-scale renewable energy projects, including offshore wind in the future, with Port Gregory being an ideal area for that; and port infrastructure opportunities that can be developed to serve both domestic refining and international export. By co-locating green energy production with iron ore resources, Oakajee and Geraldton can move beyond the model of shipping raw ore overseas and instead produce high-value green iron right here. That means jobs, advanced skills and billions in added value staying in this state.
What does that mean for my electorate? Neighbouring my electorate is a precinct known as Meridian Park, which has the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct in amongst it. I have been going there continuously over the last 18 months to watch it develop. That precinct will break down the ringlock fences around technology that our universities have. I am hoping that this legislation will break down those fences and allow the workforce to come. I can tell members that the future workforce will come from my electorate because it neighbours that precinct. Our kids who are in school now doing science, technology, engineering and mathematics and teaching our robots to dance will be the kids who will work in that precinct and hopefully build this future for us.
The global race for green steel is already underway. Countries like Sweden and Germany are making strong investments in hydrogen-based steelmaking, but they face limitations. They lack the iron ore deposits and the scale of renewables that we have here in Western Australia at our fingertips. If we act decisively, we can carve out a unique leadership position. We can move from being an exporter of raw commodities to being a world leader in green value-added manufacturing. Imagine Western Australia being not just the world's quarry but also a global hub for green industrial production. The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia has a vital role in this transition. By bringing together research expertise, industry partners and government policy, it can drive projects to prove the technical and economic case for green iron, support the development of renewable hydrogen pathways specific to iron production, build partnerships with universities and international research bodies to accelerate breakthroughs—I talk about the ringlocking of this expertise and breaking that down through this institute—and most importantly, ensuring that this innovation happens here in WA and not overseas. This is not just research for research's sake; it is about converting knowledge into an industrial revolution on our own soil.
Let us be clear about the benefits green iron will bring to us. It will create thousands of long-term jobs across engineering, construction, energy and advanced manufacturing; attract billions in investment from companies seeking low-carbon supply chains; position WA as a preferred supplier in global markets demanding sustainable materials; and contribute to emissions reductions and aligning our economy with the global climate commitments that our trading partners are starting to demand. The best bit is that this will futureproof our iron ore industry because, as the world shifts, demand will not simply be for our iron ore but for green iron and green steel inputs. If we do not seize this chance now, others will. Our state is at risk of being left behind. Imagine Geraldton being transformed into a hub of green energy. Imagine the workforce that that will create for us. Imagine ships leaving the Oakajee port facility, not loaded with iron ore but with clean, high-value iron that the world desperately needs. Imagine young people in our region working at cutting-edge jobs that connect renewable energy, mining and advanced technologies. Imagine what this is going to do to help our First Nations people of the Mid West. That is the vision we must pursue. The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia must be empowered and supported to help make this a reality.
Green iron is more than a technology innovation; it is a once in a century opportunity for Western Australia. We have the resources, the renewable potential, the strategic location and the research capacity. We can have Oakajee and Geraldton poised to become the beating heart of a new global industry. The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia is ready to drive that innovation if required. This is our chance to lead, not follow, and to create prosperity that is sustainable, jobs that are future facing and an economy that places Western Australia at the forefront of the global fight against climate change.
I commend the bill to the house.
Mrs Magenta Marshall (Rockingham) (12:58 pm): I, too, rise in support of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment (Clean Energy) Bill 2025. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to such important legislation. This bill will amend the 2013 act to modernise the institute and strengthen Western Australia's position as a global leader in resources while also driving the clean energy industries of the future. The core change of the bill is expanding the scope of the institute's research beyond minerals and into the critical areas of clean energy and emissions reduction. As other members have articulated, this bill is about positioning Western Australia to succeed in a world that is changing fast. It is a world where cleaner, smarter, more sustainable ways of producing energy and processing minerals are no longer optional but essential for competitiveness and for meeting community expectations. The way the world thinks about energy and resources has transformed. International markets, major trading partners and even local communities expect industries to meet high environmental standards and to contribute to the global effort to cut emissions. Western Australia cannot afford to stand still on this issue. If we want to keep attracting investment, creating jobs and staying ahead of the curve, we need to innovate. Of course, that means investing in research and development right now.
Like many others in this place, my community has been shaped by the mining success of our great state. Rockingham has always been part of Western Australia's industrial heart. For generations, Rockingham families have worked in the industries that have driven this state—refining, fabrication and heavy manufacturing. More recently, that has involved fly in, fly out work, but traditionally workers in Rockingham have taken great pride in their work in the Rockingham and Kwinana industrial areas, going back to 1955 when BP opened Australia's largest oil refinery in Kwinana. Those jobs have provided good wages and built strong communities. Now, as the world moves to cleaner technologies, Rockingham stands to gain from the next wave of industrial opportunity. The Rockingham–Kwinana industrial corridor already has the infrastructure, the workforce and the expertise to host projects in green energy and advanced manufacturing. This bill will help make sure Rockingham remains not just part of our industrial story, but at the forefront of what comes next.
I was pleased to join the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation earlier this week at Carbon280 in East Rockingham for the launch of the Hydrilyte technology pilot plant. Hydrogen, being the lightest molecule, presents unique challenges in terms of its easy and safe storage and transport. Globally, the industry is constantly seeking solutions that can enable the hydrogen economy to achieve its promised potential for energy transition. With its focus on improving the cost competitiveness of the hydrogen supply chain, Carbon280's technology has the potential to have a significant impact on the hydrogen industry, both here in Australia and across the globe. Rather than transporting hydrogen as a highly flammable gas requiring high-pressure storage, Hydrilite technology enables hydrogen to be separated from other gases, including helium, making the storage and transportation of hydrogen safer, more efficient and more economically viable for the scaling of the hydrogen industry. It was incredible to see the sludge form of Hydrilite being handled as a non-toxic, non-flammable and non-reactive liquid, and in this state, Hydrilyte is a safe and plumbable liquid that has the potential to be stored and transported using existing liquid fuel infrastructure such as pipelines, tankers and ships. Low cost and ease of handling will simplify and speed the implementation of these hydrogen projects globally, and enable hydrogen use in applications and geographies with less sophisticated infrastructure.
This Made in WA success story is a demonstration of how homegrown innovation and engineering excellence can contribute to the local and global energy transition, whilst also supporting advanced manufacturing, economic diversification and the creation of skilled jobs here in Western Australia. I want to congratulate Carbon280's CEO and founder, Mark Rheinlander, on this groundbreaking project, and I wish Carbon280 every success on this important endeavour. I also thank the Carbon280 team, including Lucas Pickering, Peter Hillier and Dr Adriana Pires Vieira, for showing me through the lab and the plant. I also want to acknowledge and applaud Carbon280's efforts in seeking partnerships with our major trading partners to support the global energy transition and decarbonisation agenda—in particular, Perusahaan Listrik Negara from Indonesia, which is the government-owned electric power distributor.
Another opportunity presenting itself in Western Australia is green iron. Right now, steelmaking accounts for almost 9%—I think there is a bit of conjecture around that—of global greenhouse gas emissions; most of that comes from the traditional ironmaking process. As members are aware, Western Australia is the largest iron ore exporter, supplying roughly 38% of the global market. That gives us an enormous opportunity to lead the shift to green iron produced using renewable energy and low-emission technologies. This is not just about climate; it is also about value-adding to our resources right here, creating thousands of skilled jobs and building sovereign capability in industries that will define the next century.
Locally, we are already seeing momentum. Members will have heard other members in this place talking about NeoSmelt in Kwinana, which is constructing the nation's largest electric smelting furnace, using WA ore and renewable energy. I want to correct the record though: the NeoSmelt plant is actually based in the electorate of Rockingham. I have fought the Premier on that, and I welcomed the minister when we opened that facility last year!
Another job-creating clean energy project in our industrial heartland of Rockingham and Kwinana is Rio Tinto's BioIron facility—again, located in my electorate of Rockingham. The BioIron research and development facility follows successful trials of an innovative ironmaking process in a small-scale pilot plant in Germany. For context, BioIron uses raw biomass and microwave energy instead of coal to convert Pilbara iron ore to metallic iron in the steelmaking process. When combined with the use of renewable energy and carbon circulation by fast-growing biomass, BioIron has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 95%, compared with the current blast furnace method. The Rockingham BioIron facility will include a pilot plant that will be 10 times bigger than its predecessor in Germany. It will also be the first time this innovative steelmaking process has been tested on a semi-industrial scale, capable of producing one tonne of direct reduced iron per hour. That will provide the required data to assess further scaling of the technology to a larger demonstration plant. This project aligns with our government's commitment to transitioning the industrial strip of Rockingham and Kwinana to a clean energy future.
Other members have talked about other projects in green iron across the state, and we know this is only the beginning. If WA wants to lead in green iron, we need strong research capability, and that is where an expanded Minerals Research Institute will make a real difference. Through government support, the institute has already invested more than $1.85 million into green iron and steel research. Our universities are developing breakthrough methods, like upgrading ore quality using desalination byproducts. These are world-class innovations, developed here in WA, that could underpin entirely new industries.
Another project in Rockingham I would like to share with the house is the Extractive Metallurgy Research and Education Hub—or "the Hub"—which was launched at the Murdoch University campus in Rockingham. This marks an important step forward in our state's clean energy and critical minerals future. The Hub will play a key role in transforming how we extract, process and recycle minerals, supporting the state's transition to more sustainable and innovative practices in the resources sector. It is a strong step towards achieving our shared goal of net zero emissions, helping to develop cleaner and more efficient methods in mineral extraction and hydrometallurgy. The Hub will also enhance our capacity to process critical minerals locally, which will support job creation, local manufacturing and economic diversification. The facility will tackle real-world challenges, like battery recycling, high purity metal production and e-waste recovery, whilst promoting a more circular economy. As the local member, I am truly excited about the potential this hub has to offer, and I would like to particularly acknowledge Professor Andrew Deeks, Vice-Chancellor of Murdoch University, and Professor Aleks Nikoloski for their work on this project. The Hub really draws on decades of experience and research excellence in hydrometallurgy, and the leadership of Professor Aleks will help position WA at the forefront of advanced critical minerals research and education. Being located in the Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area, the hub is ideally placed to engage with nearby industry partners to offer access to technical expertise, applied research and real-world collaboration.
But back to the bill. This bill makes the changes needed to unlock the future that we want to see. It broadens the institute's mandate to include clean energy and emissions reduction research, alongside minerals work. It introduces clear definitions for clean energy and emissions reduction research to give certainty about the institute's role. It adds an extra board member, ensuring the right mix of expertise to steer the expanded mission, and it updates the institute's name to reflect its new direction. To keep things streamlined, the bill also amends the Energy Coordination Act 1994 so that we do not duplicate research efforts across government. This is about collaboration and efficiency.
The Minerals Research Institute of WA has played a critical role in supporting our resources industry for decades. Its origins date back to 1981 as the WA Minerals and Petroleum Research Institute, and over the years its mandate has evolved to reflect the needs of industry. The institute has runs on the board and over four decades it has delivered high-impact research that has improved safety, boosted productivity and made WA a global mining powerhouse. It has deep networks across industry, academia and government. It knows how to translate research into real-world outcomes; this makes it the ideal platform for driving this next stage, helping WA compete in a world where low-carbon technologies will separate the leaders from the laggards.
What does this mean on the ground? It means new industries in WA, and jobs in places like Rockingham—jobs in research and engineering, jobs in advanced manufacturing and fabrication, and jobs for tradespeople and apprentices. It means training pathways for young people who want to work in clean energy and modern industry. For students in Rockingham, this means they can build their future right here, rather than having to move away to chase opportunities. It means that the Rockingham–Kwinana industrial area will continue to thrive, not just as the industrial base of yesterday, but as the home of tomorrow's low emissions manufacturing. It also means investment flowing into our regions and metropolitan hubs alike, supporting businesses big and small, and keeping Western Australia competitive. The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia institute has delivered for over 40 years, and with this legislation, we are giving it the mandate to deliver for the next 40. It will help WA to stay strong in a changing world by making sure our communities share in the opportunities ahead.
I commend the bill to the house.
Several members interjected.
Mr Kevin Michel (Pilbara) (1:10 pm): Having fun? Well done, members. Thanks for your support anyway. I make my contribution to the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment (Clean Energy) Bill 2025 second reading debate and thank my colleagues for their amazing contributions—not like the ones from those opposite. The aim of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment Bill 2025 is to expand the remit of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia to include clean energy research and emissions reduction research. I am pleased to speak today in support of a bill that will strengthen Western Australia's position as a global leader in resources and driving the clean energy industries of the future. This amendment bill to the Mineral Research Institute of Western Australia Act 2013 will expand the scope of the institute's research beyond minerals into the crucial areas of clean energy and emission reduction. At its heart, this bill is about ensuring Western Australia remains competitive in a rapidly changing world—a world where our global markets, trading partners and own communities are demanding cleaner, smarter and more sustainable ways to power our industries and grow our economy.
The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia has a proud legacy. It began in 1981 as the Western Australian Minerals and Petroleum Research Institute. For more than four decades it has adapted to meet the needs of our industry. In 2003, sustainable energy research functions moved elsewhere and in 2013, MRIWA's focus was narrowed to mineral research. That change made sense at the time. The mining sector wanted a singular focus on the challenges of mineral extractions, and energy research was being well supported in other forums.
However, times have changed. The problems we face today are no longer neatly separated into minerals and energy. They are interconnected and so, too, must be our solutions. Western Australia's mineral resources are competing in global markets that increasingly demand environmental outcomes. We face the challenge of reducing our domestic emissions while also growing new industries like critical minerals processing and renewable-powered manufacturing. This balancing act—economic growth alongside decarbonisation—is one of the defining challenges of our time. It is not a challenge we can postpone. Many of the technologies that will get us there require long lead times before deployment. If we want to reap the benefits, we must invest now.
One of the clearest examples of this new reality is green iron. Steelmaking is responsible for up to 9% of global greenhouse gas emission, most of it from the iron-making processes. As the world's largest exporter of iron ore, supplying over 38% of the global market, and the Pilbara being one of the biggest exporters in the world, the Pilbara and Western Australia are uniquely placed to lead in the production of green iron, which is iron made with renewable energy and low-emission processes. This is not just about reducing emissions; it is about adding value to our resources here at home. It is about creating good, secure jobs in both our regions and cities; it is about developing sovereign capability in industries that will underpin our economy for decades to come.
We already have momentum in projects in Kwinana, Collie, Geraldton and the Pilbara. If members look at the Pilbara, Fortescue is pioneering green hydrogen-powered iron production and opening new export markets. Clean energy is particularly important to the Pilbara as it is decarbonising mining operations, ensuring that the Pilbara stays globally competitive and continues to be a leader in driving clean energy innovation. It also develops new industries, creates new jobs and ensures that the Pilbara contributes to Western Australia's climate and economic goals. By expanding the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia's scope, we are equipping the Pilbara to help lead the energy and resources transition. Western Australia has the strongest economy in the nation, and much of our success is the result of the businesses, industries and people across vast regional areas such as the Pilbara. Renewable energy will be the cleanest form of energy, and I am excited that the Pilbara is helping lead the way in this industry. Renewable energy will provide a more sustainable future for the Pilbara and WA.
The $140 million invested from the Australian and Western Australian governments to build the Yuri Renewable Hydrogen to Ammonia Project is an important stride in Australia becoming a major producer and exporter of renewable hydrogen. It is important in reducing the emissions and providing emission-free material and clean energy to the rest of the world. I had the privilege to see the development of project Yuri on the Yara Pilbara lease. Yuri is a pilot-scale renewable hydrogen project that is now well advanced in construction within the company lease. It is beginning to develop projects with international energy companies like ENGIE and Mitsui E&P Australia. Also, 30,000 solar panels are in place. Once the electrolyser that is onsite is commissioned, Yuri will demonstrate how an 18-megawatt solar farm can power a 10-megawatt electrolyser to produce renewable hydrogen, which we will feed into the Yara Pilbara Fertilisers plant to create clean ammonia. Yara's ammonia plant will be the first existing ammonia production facility in Australia to take renewable-sourced hydrogen and turn it into low-carbon ammonia.
It is through projects like Yara that we can grow knowledge and build capacity and skills that will help to develop the hydrogen industry and assist the state's industry energy transition. These projects highlight the Pilbara's strong commitment to renewable energy and positions the Pilbara as a clean energy powerhouse for the future. These projects also include $22 million towards the new Hydrogen Training Hub at North Regional TAFE, which will help locals develop skills in hydrogen technology. It will also assist in acquiring the skills needed for future clean energy jobs, helping Western Australia secure renewable energy projects for the future, which will secure jobs.
The clean energy sector is expected to generate 350,000 jobs over the next 25 years. By expanding the scope of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia to include clean energy research and emissions reduction research, more projects will be created in the Pilbara, resulting in more jobs and opportunities. Further research into clean energy and emissions reduction is crucial to ensuring we achieve net zero energy emissions. These are the sorts of projects that MRIWA, with its expanded remit, will be perfectly placed to support through research, innovation and the translation of ideas into commercial reality. We are also backing innovation by investing in people and research that will help us stay ahead through developing research and industry capability, being a catalyst of project vitality, promoting sustainability in mining, and building a research ecosystem
MRIWA has six focuses that are targeted initiatives designed to stimulate and enhance high-value activities that will benefit Western Australia. These areas may address specific segments of the mining value chain, or span the entire chain, depending on where the greatest impact can be achieved. The current focuses are green steel, critical minerals, exploration amplification, precision and low-impact mining, alternative use of tailings and waste, and net zero emissions mining.
MRIWA fosters a robust ecosystem that aligns research initiatives with industry needs and facilitates collaboration across industry, academia and government. MRIWA's general research funding program supports impactful research addressing Western Australia's minerals energy challenges in any area covered by its Research Priority Plan. Funding is available for projects initiated by industry, academia or consortia, with co-investment required. The mining, equipment, technology and services innovation program supports Western Australia's METS companies and the WA government's Diversify WA economic development platform in developing products and services that address key mining and mineral industry challenges. The minerals education and workforce program offers scholarships and education opportunities to shape and empower future mining industry thought leaders. MRIWA's Accelerated Mineral Carbonation Research program is a $2.5 million initiative aimed at fast tracking technologies to convert carbon dioxide into stable minerals using mining waste. It supports breakthrough, innovation and rapid response projects aligned with a road map focused on science, economics, environment and policy.
The bill expands MRIWA's scope to include clean energy and emissions reduction research alongside its mineral work; provides clear definitions for clean energy, clean energy research and emissions reduction to guide its work; expands the institute's board by one member to ensure the expertise is in place to guide its broader mission; and updates the institute's name to reflect its expanded scope. It also amends the Energy Coordination Act 1994 to avoid duplication of sustainable energy research functions, ensuring our efforts are coordinated and our resources used effectively.
MRIWA has a proven track record—decades of high impact minerals research that has improved productivity, safety and innovation across our resources sector. Its governance is strong, its networks are deep and its ability to work across industry, research institutions and government is well established. That means it can move quickly and effectively into these new areas, adding value from day one. By expanding MRIWA's scope, we are strengthening WA's global competitiveness in a decarbonising world; supporting the development of new industries like green iron, critical minerals processing and renewable powered manufacturing; creating well-paid jobs in engineering, operations, trades, research and commercial roles; opening training pathways for young Western Australians in both regional and metropolitan areas; and driving investment into our regions, ensuring communities such as Collie, Kwinana, Geraldton and the Pilbara have strong economic futures.
This bill is about building the future we want, a future in which Western Australia is not only the world's mining powerhouse, but also a global leader in clean energy innovation and low emissions manufacturing. It is about making sure that industries like green iron are not opportunities missed but opportunities realised. Delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for all Western Australians is very important. MRIWA has been delivering results for over 40 years. With this bill, we are giving it the mandate to meet challenges for the next 40 years. Western Australia has a real opportunity to lead in the development of green iron and steel research, development and technologies. I support the Mineral Research Institute of Western Australia (Clean Energy) Bill 2025. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts the research into clean energy has on our climate and environmental footprint. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk on this bill. I commend it to the house.
Mrs Lisa O'Malley (Bicton—Parliamentary Secretary) (1:25 pm): I, too, rise to speak on the Mineral Research Institute of Western Australia (Clean Energy) Bill 2025. I am pleased to speak in support of a bill that will both strengthen Western Australia's position as a global leader in resources and drive our clean energy industries of the future. The reason I wanted to speak on this bill is twofold: firstly, given the importance of the two words that have now been included—clean energy—and, secondly, because I would like to give a bit of a shout-out to the industries that will help support that transition to clean energy. At the outset, I wanted to offer a few things in my contribution in relation to the Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia and its predecessors, which has helped advance the local mining industry and increase the benefits it delivers to Western Australia since its establishment in 1981. In particular, I wish to speak to some of the important aspects relating to the connection of research, carbon reduction technology, clean energy production and the way in which this bill will assist that important work.
There is no doubt that this is something that is desperately needed. We need to move forward towards a clean energy future as quickly as we possibly can, again in recognition of the Cook Labor government's continuing efforts over many years to support that transition. I want to diversify a little from the outset, if I could. I had the pleasure of representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food at the Electrify AG 25 forum at Bentley Technology Park last Friday. I also want to recognise the role in which so many other industries are working towards this clean energy future. I will just deviate slightly. Hopefully, everyone in the chamber is quite comfortable for me to do so. The Electrify AG forum that was held last Friday again showed that everybody across pretty much all sectors we can think of are working towards a clean energy future. The forum brought together agriculture consultants, farmers, renewable energy developers, enthusiasts and others at Bentley Technology Park. About 150 people attended. The day was full of presentations and panels focused on how agricultural regional communities can embrace a clean energy economy and thrive in a changing climate. The discussions covered a range of topics, including WA's renewable energy transition, community benefits from renewable energy projects and financing the energy transition in agriculture. A common message throughout the presentations was that the regions need to be involved in the discussion of renewable developments and what benefits and impacts they will have. Having been there, I would suggest that it is not only important that these communities be involved in the discussions, but, more importantly, that they are active participants and collaborators in this work. That was definitely the message that I delivered, not just on behalf of the minister, but myself personally.
I would like it on the record that I think I have arrived, because I ended up with my name in Farm Weekly!
Several members interjected.
Mrs Lisa O'Malley: I know, right? It was amazing. For those who have heard me talk about this before, I grew up in country Victoria in a little place called Korumburra that has always been known for its dairy industry, but has become more recently known for its mushrooms. We will leave that there!
The thing that really struck me, again, was this really key message around collaboration and working together towards a clean energy future. I want to give a shout-out. There were some amazing presenters, but what really struck me and opened my mind to wanting to know more was a chap who is a farmer and a developer. That is how he described himself. I am sure some of my colleagues across the way here will know of Tim Stevenson and the Parron wind farm project. He certainly spoke passionately about the opportunities that that is unlocking. I learned a new term—I always like to learn things when I go to these events—which is agri-solar, or agrivoltaics, which actively combines renewable projects with agriculture. I cannot get out of my mind the image of those solar farms where, through the solar panels' energy production, water comes through and lands below on a shaded area, grass grows there, and then there are sheep grazing underneath the solar panels. I think that is incredibly exciting. I know that scale is a really important part of the story as we move towards a clean energy future, but I do not think we should underestimate the power of small projects along the way as we are developing. That was pretty cool.
Another thing I want to talk about and give a shout-out to while I have the opportunity is the way in which other industries that have always been there work, support and help facilitate the incredible activity around the resources sector. I want to talk about quarries and rocks. This allows me to be slightly self-indulgent for a moment, but also to give a shout-out to another incredible local business. I will start with the local business, which is WA Limestone. I do not think anyone in this chamber would be a stranger to WA Limestone and the incredible work it does across our state.
What do quarries do? What do rocks do? Quarries are like mini mines, if you like. If we think about all that infrastructure—the roads, rail and ports—we cannot do the stuff that we need to do without the quarries. Of course, the quarries provide the base material of rocks and stone that goes into cement and all the rest of it to build the infrastructure that supports our resources sector, and around it goes. Although it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of quarries in Western Australia, it is safe to say that there are hundreds if not thousands. WA is a major mining and resource state, and many of these projects involve quarrying activities. WA Limestone alone operates 35 quarries. I give a shout-out to Peter Della Bona and the whole WA Limestone family and organisation as a local reference point.
Just very quickly, WA Limestone started out as a single limestone quarry, complete with a lean-to shack as an office. It then diversified and grew over the years that followed to become one of Western Australia's largest suppliers of road construction and building materials, as well as a specialist in marine construction and civil works. As I said, it has over 35 quarries located across the state offering over 40 different types of raw materials and supplying the market with more than six million tonnes of product each year, which is used in sea walls, roads, bridges, property developments, public spaces, railways and more.
I go back to the personal indulgence. You could say that I have a personal passion for rocks, because I come from quarry people. The company FG Hams and Sons was started by my grandfather, Frederick Gordon Hams. He and his sons—my father, George; my Uncle Gordon; and, in the early years, my Uncle Neil—were quarrymen. Starting post-war, from the 1940s or 1950s through until the 1980s, they had a series of quarries across South Gippsland, where I am proudly from. They initially started by supporting the forestry industry out in East Gippsland. They built the roads that would enable that industry to thrive. They moved on to Thorpdale, Orbost, Tynong and then Ruby quarry, which was the one closest to where I grew up. In that time, they built thousands and thousands of kilometres of roads. Initially, this was to open up various industries, as I said, to support the dairy industry and many others. I guess in putting that on the record, I can show my father as well as Farm Weekly—I mean, goodness me, it has been a big week for the Hams family of Korumburra!
In closing, I want to support all aforementioned contributions from members across the house in support of this bill. I could go on if I had more time. I note that I do have more time, but I know that the minister wants to get this bill moving along as well, because that is what we do as a Cook Labor government. We get things going and we get things done. I could go on about the research opportunities; the continuous support of not only the absolutely vital research sector here in WA, but also all the industries like quarries that also support those industries; and absolutely the march towards a decarbonised future.
I thank the minister for bringing this bill to the house and I commend the bill.
Mr Liam Staltari: Acting Speaker, I draw your attention to the state of the house.
(Quorum formed.)
Mr David Michael (Balcatta—Minister for Mines and Petroleum) (1:38 pm) in reply: I thank the opposition and government speakers for their support of the bill. It is clear that both sides of the house are huge supporters of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia. I am sure that Nicole Roocke and her team at MRIWA are watching and feeling the love online.
The overarching objectives of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment (Clean Energy) Bill 2025 is to expand the research scope of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia to foster and promote research in the areas of minerals, clean energy and emissions reduction for the benefit of our state. The institute already stimulates and supports minerals research and has been doing this effectively for many years. As previously described, for Western Australia to capture the full range of emerging opportunities, ongoing research is needed to respond to rapid advances in technology and implement clean energy in enabling technologies at scale.
With new technologies often requiring long lead times before deployment, there is a need to act now. The bill gives effect to this objective through the inclusion of definitions for clean energy, clean energy research, emissions reduction and emissions reduction research. It permits the institute to undertake research in these defined areas in a manner consistent with its existing functions relating to minerals research.
In thanking opposition members for their support for the bill, I might go through some of the comments made by the members for Mid-West and Carine that centred around the potential dilution of the minerals research focus. Let me be absolutely clear: this expansion will strengthen, not weaken, our minerals research capability. The Cook Labor government recognises that minerals research is the foundation upon which the institute was built and of its outstanding reputation over its four decades in operation. I say to the Leader of the Nationals WA that we share his commitment to maintaining Western Australia's position as a global mining leader. That is precisely why we are expanding MRIWA's scope.
The energy transition is not separate from mining; it is fundamentally dependent on our critical minerals. Every electric vehicle battery, every wind turbine and every solar panel requires the minerals that we extract right here in Western Australia. The legislation as it currently stands prevents us from maximising the opportunity that this interrelationship presents. I will remain the minister responsible for the legislation, which has embedded in it assurances that minerals research will remain a priority. Firstly, we have ensured that there will remain a requirement for the board to have representatives who have experience or expert knowledge in the minerals industry, but it will also need clean energy and emissions reduction expertise, which is why we will increase the number of board members rather than replace an existing role. The bill provides for the Coordinator of Energy to nominate that representative and, as advised, I will consult the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation on that nomination. The second assurance that can be provided is the requirement for the institute's research priority plan to continue to identify and prioritise the medium to long-term knowledge and technology needs of the minerals industry, in addition to new areas. The institute is in fact seeking input on the minerals research aspects of the plan right now, as the last plan was developed in 2019. It is obviously very timely for this review to occur.
As noted by some members, the institute's annual budget is, on average, $6.5 million through an administrative appropriation. From this amount, the institute has demonstrated that it has been able to leverage significant funds from third parties for research purposes. As at 30 June 2025, the institute was involved in 81 active research projects and five research centres and cooperative research centres, and directly supported 22 PhD scholarships. The total value of that research is around $114 million, with the state's contribution being around $21.5 million allocated over a number of years to multiyear projects. Two-thirds of the institute's revenue is the result of historic increases in mining tenement fees. These funds will ensure that it maintains a focus on minerals research. Further, the institute is provided with additional funds over and above its annual administrative appropriation to undertake strategically important projects for the state on a case-by-case basis. Over the last six years, it has managed the state's $6 million investment in the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre. It was provided an additional $2.4 million last year from our Cook government to progress the development work relating to the critical minerals advanced processing common-user facility, and it secured an extra $1.5 million from the Commonwealth government to support this work. The institute was also provided with $1 million to undertake the green steel assessment a number of years ago. That has been instrumental in informing the state government on that matter, which some members spoke about. The institute is also the trusted delivery partner for other government organisations. Since 2021, it was agreed that the institute would receive $1.75 million over a 10-year period to manage the state's investment in the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre via the science portfolio, now in the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification.
Some members raised concerns about the Fraser Institute's ranking of WA and other industry pressures. They are exactly the challenges that this expanded research capability will help to address. We know that innovation drives competitiveness and that access to low-cost energy is imperative. By leading clean energy research, we will ensure that our mining sector not only remains globally competitive, but also supplies the necessary commodities for decarbonisation and the provision of low-cost energy for other industry sectors. Combining minerals and energy research will provide integrated solutions to resolve real-world issues facing not just our mining companies but also the broader Western Australian industry, which is facing decarbonisation challenges.
A question was raised about how the institute will provide advice on clean energy. As mentioned, it will have a new board member. It will also seek additional subject matter experts to join its college in the new areas to be covered. The institute's college is an advisory group appointed by the board to provide advice to the institute and MRIWA's board on research priorities. Members from the college also form research assessment panels to assist in the assessment of research and scholarships applications that seek to address the challenges facing the state. It is through this mechanism that we can be assured that the institute will have access to the expert advice it requires. Like those opposite have confirmed, and as was explicitly acknowledged by, I think, the member for Central Wheatbelt, the bill marks the next step in the institute's journey. By supporting research, we can not only ensure the long-term viability and competitiveness of the mining sector, but also stay at the forefront of technology and innovation as it relates to clean energy and emissions reduction.
I will make a few comments on the contributions of members of the government on this bill. In particular, I acknowledge the contributions the other day from the members for Bibra Lake, South Perth and Cockburn. As they highlighted, it is important that we initiate work that addresses the challenges facing all industry sectors relating to decarbonisation and emissions reduction. It is important that we do not focus just on the scale of the mining sector but that we also consider what we can do to be at the forefront of the energy transition and enable WA to set the standard for low-carbon production. As highlighted by the member for Bibra Lake, by changing the research scope of the institute, we are seeking to both keep industry strong and have a focus on environmental outcomes. We have crafted the definitions with that in mind.
As raised by the member for South Perth, we have seen waves of development over the years and the institute's scope has changed to reflect the changing needs of the state of Western Australia. Renewable energy is one of those ways. Although much is known, such as the extent of the natural resources that we have here with our wind and sunshine, there is as much unknown about how we can capture, store and use them across the breadth of the state, ranging from hot, humid climates to our cooler, wetter areas. Understanding the differing needs of different industry sectors is obviously important. These unanswered questions are the types of opportunities that we want the institute to work on with other partners to map out the future for WA.
The member for Cockburn further acknowledged the role of the institute in enabling cutting-edge research by bringing together industry, government and researchers. This is a key enabler of the organisation's success and ensures robust consideration of the issues that it addresses. This approach will not change under the expanded remit. He is also right in his view that reinforcing the importance and complementarity of bringing together clean energy, emissions reduction and minerals research into one state government agency that can champion projects will deliver benefits for the state going forward. I think he was also the first to be on the public record using the future new name of the institute, being the Clean Energy and Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia.
Before I close my remarks, I will quickly reflect on the contributions from members who spoke today. The member for Butler made an excellent speech. She talked about the importance of decarbonisation; the transition, especially for workers, citing Collie as an example; and future training opportunities for Western Australians in these emerging industries that will help the world. The member for Mindarie spoke about the amazing green steel opportunity that we have in Western Australia. The member for Rockingham said very accurately that the world is changing fast and talked about the opportunities in the Rockingham–Kwinana strip. I know that MRIWA will definitely look to partner with some of those amazing businesses in Rockingham and Kwinana in the future. I think she said that we need to make sure that in the clean energy transition, we separate the leaders from the laggards. I wholeheartedly agree. Whenever the member for Pilbara speaks, something happens with the Nationals; they start yelling at him before he can speak! I think a little bit of them dies every time he gets up to speak! He took the seat from them eight and a half years ago, so they get a bit funny whenever he gets up to speak. But he is the king of the Pilbara, and he made an excellent speech in which he talked about the green iron opportunities for the Pilbara. He talked about opportunities for downstreaming some of our commodities, including green iron, the future manufacturing opportunities that that will entail, and how the Pilbara is helping us lead the way in the clean energy transition, especially in the resources industry.
The member for Bicton made an excellent speech, talking about her family history in terms of where she was from, and she linked that to the opportunities for our regions in the clean energy transition, especially in the resources and critical minerals industries, and the importance of working together with local communities for our clean energy future. She also talked about quarries—something I did not think would come up today—and their absolute importance to our state.
In drawing my comments to a close, I will reiterate the following: This bill will have the effect of strengthening the institute's existing mandate to respond to issues of critical importance to the state. It will bolster the institute's strong record of fostering and promoting high-impact minerals research by adding complementary capabilities to invest in research solutions that respond to new and emerging knowledge and technology requirements related to clean energy and emissions reductions.
I again thank the opposition for its constructive engagement in debate on the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Amendment (Clean Energy) Bill 2025, and I look forward to its continuing support as we position Western Australia to lead the global energy transition, whilst maintaining our mining excellence. The clean energy future is a minerals-intensive future, and Western Australia will be at its heart.
I commend the bill to the house. In doing so, as much as we would like it to be passed today, I understand that the Leader of the National Party did not look well yesterday, so I wish him the best, if he is watching at home; I hope he is in bed and he is not watching us! But I look forward to consideration in detail when he hopefully returns soon.
Question put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
Debate adjourned, on motion by Mr David Michael (Leader of the House).
