QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:31): Senator Lambie, thank you for that question. You're right that you, amongst many other Tasmanians, raised from the outset the set of issues that surrounded the Liberty Bell Bay facility and a range of the assets that were owned by Mr Gupta's organisation around Australia.

It is the case that both of these things were happening, Senator. These issues have been raised, and I'm grateful for the local perspective that has been brought to this by the Tasmanian Labor senators and by you in the chamber here and directly with me. It's also the case that, obviously, from my department's perspective and from the Albanese government's perspective, we've been watching this set of developments very closely.

I can't tell you how disappointed and angry I am, and the government is, about what has happened in Northern Tasmania. This facility, in the early 2020s, was among the most efficient—in the top-half—manganese smelters in the world. For all the rhetoric that's run by some of the people opposite about the inefficiency of Australian manufacturing, this was an efficient manufacturing facility.

It has been run into the ground by Mr Gupta and his negligence in running that facility. The people who own manufacturing facilities are really just the stewards— Senator AYRES: I don't intend to skip the question directly. During the administration, during this period of liquidation, there are a number of proponents who seek to either run that facility or run alternative operations, and Tasmania and the Commonwealth are looking at those closely— (Time expired)