Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water) (15:12): I will just deal with that last point first—the high costs of mining that Senator Bernardi refers to in Australia. The fact of the matter is that the reason that wages have gone up in the mining industry is that there has been a mining boom. That is what has pushed up the cost of labour in the mining industry. We have had the largest mining boom in our history. That has been good for the country, but it does have an impact—and, of course, it has had some impact on the Olympic Dam development. What I am concerned about is the delight that Senator Bernardi appears to exhibit in the fact that this particular development has not been proceeded with at this stage. He says that as a South Australian senator I should be embarrassed about the performance of Senator Wong. I have never been embarrassed about the performance of Senator Wong, and I certainly was not embarrassed about her performance today. She is a great minister. Senator Bernardi: That says a lot about you! Senator FARRELL: It does say a lot about me. If I were Senator Bernardi and Mr Abbott was my leader, I can tell you that I would have been significantly embarrassed about the performance that he delivered on the 7.30 program last evening. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator FARRELL: If anybody is going to be embarrassed in this debate, Senator Bernardi, it is going to be you and your party about Mr Abbott's performance. Let us go back to yesterday afternoon. What did Mr Kloppers say was the reason for not proceeding at this stage with Olympic Dam? Senator Bernardi interjecting— Senator FARRELL: The fact that Senator Bernardi continues to interrupt— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Bernardi. You have had your turn. Senator Farrell, you have the call. Senator FARRELL: Thank you for that protection, Mr Deputy President. What did Mr Kloppers say was the reason? He talked about current market conditions including subdued market prices. One of the things he did not talk about as the impetus for not proceeding was the mining tax. The reason he did not talk about the mining tax was that he knew what Mr Abbott did not know when he gave that 7.30 interview last night. What sort of mine is Olympic Dam ? It is not a coalmine, it is not an iron ore mine Senator Abetz: It is not a mine at all, thanks to you. Senator FARRELL: I absolutely reject that. Olympic Dam is a great project in South Australia. It continues to be a great project and one of these days that project will continue to expand. The fact is that Olympic Dam continues to employ people in South Australia, it continues to pay royalties to South Australia and it will be one of Australia's great projects. What I do not understand—after what Mr Kloppers said very clearly yesterday afternoon—is why Mr Abbott went on 7.30 last night and when asked a very clear question if he had actually read BHP's statement, he said, 'No, I haven't.' Mr Abbott goes on national television last night to exploit the fact that we have had this disappointing news— Senator Birmingham: Mr Deputy President, on a point of order: I think Senator Farrell is at serious risk of misleading the chamber by very selectively quoting the Leader of the Opposition's answer to questions he was asked last night. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. That is debating the issue. Senator FARRELL: I will respond to that, Deputy President. I will read out the entire quote from last night: LEIGH SALES: I'm going on the facts that Marius Kloppers said today when he was directly asked if the decision on Olympic Dam was affected by Australia's tax situation and I'm going on the facts that are outlined in their results statement that they've issued. Have you actually read BHP's statement? TONY ABBOTT: No … (Time expired)