Interesting though. Today the Senate candidate for the Jackie Lambee Party, Rex Patrick, once South Australia's government to place Sanjee Gupta's Whaler Steel Works into administration. It's a startling headline. What does it all mean? Rex Patrick's been kind enough to join us in the studio this morning. Rex, welcome, thanks for coming in.

Interesting though. Today the Senate candidate for the Jackie Lambee Party, Rex Patrick, once South Australia's government to place Sanjee Gupta's Whaler Steel Works into administration. It's a startling headline. What does it all mean? Rex Patrick's been kind enough to join us in the studio this morning. Rex, welcome, thanks for coming in.

Good morning, and to your listeners.

Good morning, and to your listeners.

Explain this to us. Why do you want this?

Explain this to us. Why do you want this?

Well, we've got a situation in Whaler and look at this good news that they've got the blast furnace back up and running. But all that does is place Whyler back in the situation where it's got a sixty year old steel works and no future. It's not an efficient steel works. It needs investment. The state government and the federal government quite rightly should not invest in mister Gupta's steel works because he's in awful financial trouble all around the world. He's under investigation in Europe. He's got a number of plants that are in administration. He's not meeting the payments of his creditors at this point in time. We are local businesses in Wyler, but also nationally. You can't throw money into his organization to invest because you simply don't know where that money will end up going. That means the only option we have is to remove mister Gupta from the picture. He's the problem, not the solution. We need to put the steel works into administration. The means to do that is the fact that the GFD owes the state government royalties. That's been stated in the Parliament as a fact. We can put it into administration and then following from that, the state and federal government take an equity stake, perhaps with an experienced still partner, or if necessary, have a government owned corporation that they can invest in and put Wyler onto the green steel Highway to the future.

Well, we've got a situation in Whaler and look at this good news that they've got the blast furnace back up and running. But all that does is place Whyler back in the situation where it's got a sixty year old steel works and no future. It's not an efficient steel works. It needs investment. The state government and the federal government quite rightly should not invest in mister Gupta's steel works because he's in awful financial trouble all around the world. He's under investigation in Europe. He's got a number of plants that are in administration. He's not meeting the payments of his creditors at this point in time. We are local businesses in Wyler, but also nationally. You can't throw money into his organization to invest because you simply don't know where that money will end up going. That means the only option we have is to remove mister Gupta from the picture. He's the problem, not the solution. We need to put the steel works into administration. The means to do that is the fact that the GFD owes the state government royalties. That's been stated in the Parliament as a fact. We can put it into administration and then following from that, the state and federal government take an equity stake, perhaps with an experienced still partner, or if necessary, have a government owned corporation that they can invest in and put Wyler onto the green steel Highway to the future.

So you don't want to bury Wyaler, you just want to remove mister Gupta. No.

So you don't want to bury Wyaler, you just want to remove mister Gupta. No.

Wiler is critical in terms of the functions of the steel works, providing all of our structural steel, providing our rail steel. And right now this critical national asset is in the hands of a court and broad billionaire who has a chasm that sits between his promises and his actions. The state government are sitting there not doing anything really that they fly up occasionally and sort of pat creditors on the back and say, look, we're going to work to put pressure on mister Gupta to pay his bills. But their strategy seems to be hope and wait, and that is not a good strategy for Wyler. If that steel Works does not get upgraded, it will end up going into a basically shutting down and that cannot happen.

Wiler is critical in terms of the functions of the steel works, providing all of our structural steel, providing our rail steel. And right now this critical national asset is in the hands of a court and broad billionaire who has a chasm that sits between his promises and his actions. The state government are sitting there not doing anything really that they fly up occasionally and sort of pat creditors on the back and say, look, we're going to work to put pressure on mister Gupta to pay his bills. But their strategy seems to be hope and wait, and that is not a good strategy for Wyler. If that steel Works does not get upgraded, it will end up going into a basically shutting down and that cannot happen.

Rex. I'm not a smart man, but explain this to me. How is mister Gupta not able to pay his royalties and not able to pay his creditors, yet he's able to splash twelve million dollars on a home in Sydney.

Rex. I'm not a smart man, but explain this to me. How is mister Gupta not able to pay his royalties and not able to pay his creditors, yet he's able to splash twelve million dollars on a home in Sydney.

Well, this is the way in which corporate entities are set up. They're different legal entities. So you know, the steel Work still Works is not paying its bill, but the separate entity of mister Gupta can buy property in Sydney. And that's in fact, some of the problems they've got here is just the web of different legal entities that are involved. You know, one of the things that he's being investigated for is a lack of compliance with financial reporting, which is normally one of the mechanisms to understand how a company is operating, to make sure that the company or we can see publicly that there's no tax evasion or avoidance going on. And I'm just talking about any company in general. And it also gives investors and people who might want to work with a company the ability to look into the status of a company to be be able to say I want to work with that company. Now he hasn't filed financial reports, impossible to untangle what's going on. It's very interesting. The State government under the Mining Act, in circumstances where the royalties aren't being paid, has the power to open the books, look inside and the Minister can then publish a report in relation to GfG. But the state government's not doing that. There's no transparency around this, either from mister Gupta but also from the state government.

Well, this is the way in which corporate entities are set up. They're different legal entities. So you know, the steel Work still Works is not paying its bill, but the separate entity of mister Gupta can buy property in Sydney. And that's in fact, some of the problems they've got here is just the web of different legal entities that are involved. You know, one of the things that he's being investigated for is a lack of compliance with financial reporting, which is normally one of the mechanisms to understand how a company is operating, to make sure that the company or we can see publicly that there's no tax evasion or avoidance going on. And I'm just talking about any company in general. And it also gives investors and people who might want to work with a company the ability to look into the status of a company to be be able to say I want to work with that company. Now he hasn't filed financial reports, impossible to untangle what's going on. It's very interesting. The State government under the Mining Act, in circumstances where the royalties aren't being paid, has the power to open the books, look inside and the Minister can then publish a report in relation to GfG. But the state government's not doing that. There's no transparency around this, either from mister Gupta but also from the state government.

Why not Why would they not do that?

Why not Why would they not do that?

Well, I think their preference is just let this ride out because it would require a substantial investment. And look, there will be people that say, why should we invest in steel works. Well, firstly, we need to take an equity stake, so it's an investment in our own asset. But we've got a situation where Anthony Alberanezi is investing four point seven billion dollars in u AS shipyards. Another four point four billion dollars in UK shipyards, but throwing pennies at Wyala, which is our industry. You know, we've seen a couple of announcements over the last few days. Seven billion dollars going to the Bruce Highway and Queensland. Another three billion dollars going to NBN, and look, I'm going to go into whether that's good or not. Look, I think you know road investment is good. But while as being ignored.

Well, I think their preference is just let this ride out because it would require a substantial investment. And look, there will be people that say, why should we invest in steel works. Well, firstly, we need to take an equity stake, so it's an investment in our own asset. But we've got a situation where Anthony Alberanezi is investing four point seven billion dollars in u AS shipyards. Another four point four billion dollars in UK shipyards, but throwing pennies at Wyala, which is our industry. You know, we've seen a couple of announcements over the last few days. Seven billion dollars going to the Bruce Highway and Queensland. Another three billion dollars going to NBN, and look, I'm going to go into whether that's good or not. Look, I think you know road investment is good. But while as being ignored.

Rex Patrick is here. If you've got a question about whaler eight double two to three double O double, oh please send it our way. Are we getting excited about a steel works that's back at sixty percent which is pretty much where they were before? Is there a song and dance about being at the status quo?

Rex Patrick is here. If you've got a question about whaler eight double two to three double O double, oh please send it our way. Are we getting excited about a steel works that's back at sixty percent which is pretty much where they were before? Is there a song and dance about being at the status quo?

Look, I think it's good that the stell, the bust furnaces back up and running. There's no questions that's a good thing. But the critical thing here is not to basically sit back and say, well that that's sort of off the hook. It doesn't. It just leaves us in that status quote, in that purgatory of wondering how we move forward. And that's that's why it's really important right now to not relax in terms of the pressure that's put on the state and federal governments because there isn't an avenue for them to sit back down and say it's all okay. It is not okay. It's a sixty year old steelworks that needs to be transformed into a green steel steel hub.

Look, I think it's good that the stell, the bust furnaces back up and running. There's no questions that's a good thing. But the critical thing here is not to basically sit back and say, well that that's sort of off the hook. It doesn't. It just leaves us in that status quote, in that purgatory of wondering how we move forward. And that's that's why it's really important right now to not relax in terms of the pressure that's put on the state and federal governments because there isn't an avenue for them to sit back down and say it's all okay. It is not okay. It's a sixty year old steelworks that needs to be transformed into a green steel steel hub.

I don't want to speak for everyone. Clearly you think there's some warts on this whole situation with mister Gooda. I think the audience is in the same boat. We can all see it. Why is the government holding out on this? Is it the fact that you do? You think they're just hoping and praying that things work out well as opposed to actually doing a deep dive. And the Albanezy government to the same is he is he the white knight that's sort of ridden in to save everyone and we're all hopeful for it. So rather than dig the surface too much, we just wait and see.

I don't want to speak for everyone. Clearly you think there's some warts on this whole situation with mister Gooda. I think the audience is in the same boat. We can all see it. Why is the government holding out on this? Is it the fact that you do? You think they're just hoping and praying that things work out well as opposed to actually doing a deep dive. And the Albanezy government to the same is he is he the white knight that's sort of ridden in to save everyone and we're all hopeful for it. So rather than dig the surface too much, we just wait and see.

Well, I just want to be fair about this. Mister Goda did write in as a white knight back in twenty seventeen when Aram went into administration. At that point in time, he had the backing of Green Seals Capital. Of course, that organization has gone under and that's where all of the problems have started. So yeah, I've met with mister Gutta. He's an enthusiastic, optimistic chap and yours walk away after talking to him feeling really good. But I think there's the reality now we understand about where his financial situation is, and there is no pathway forward for Whaler. There's no pathway forward. The government is just sitting there hoping that somehow mister Gupta will pull himself out of the financial mess that he's in around the world and suddenly go, you know what, I'm going to spend a billion dollars on the Wiler plant. That is just not going to happen. And we saw Peter Melanauskus last night on television very reluctant to back in. Mister he knows, he absolutely knows, but just not taking the big step that's required, the big leadership step that's required. It's interesting we've got, you know, Peter Malanowskis has put forward great proposal in relation to water on the air Peninsula and in relation to a hydrogen plant. So yeah, he's showing some vision. But actually part of the reason for that detail plant and the hydrogen plant is to support Wyala and that bit's being ignored.

Well, I just want to be fair about this. Mister Goda did write in as a white knight back in twenty seventeen when Aram went into administration. At that point in time, he had the backing of Green Seals Capital. Of course, that organization has gone under and that's where all of the problems have started. So yeah, I've met with mister Gutta. He's an enthusiastic, optimistic chap and yours walk away after talking to him feeling really good. But I think there's the reality now we understand about where his financial situation is, and there is no pathway forward for Whaler. There's no pathway forward. The government is just sitting there hoping that somehow mister Gupta will pull himself out of the financial mess that he's in around the world and suddenly go, you know what, I'm going to spend a billion dollars on the Wiler plant. That is just not going to happen. And we saw Peter Melanauskus last night on television very reluctant to back in. Mister he knows, he absolutely knows, but just not taking the big step that's required, the big leadership step that's required. It's interesting we've got, you know, Peter Malanowskis has put forward great proposal in relation to water on the air Peninsula and in relation to a hydrogen plant. So yeah, he's showing some vision. But actually part of the reason for that detail plant and the hydrogen plant is to support Wyala and that bit's being ignored.

We used to have a nickname for like a showbag. It's very flashy and it's very pretty, but there's no substance inside it. If you look at what are the people of Wyala saying now, do you sense a changing of attitudes towards mister Gupta m Wale?

We used to have a nickname for like a showbag. It's very flashy and it's very pretty, but there's no substance inside it. If you look at what are the people of Wyala saying now, do you sense a changing of attitudes towards mister Gupta m Wale?

Absolutely so. I have been in contact with people and Whaler. In fact, my brother still lives there. I went to school in Whaler, lots of friends there, so I'm well connected in the city. And of course as a former senator went up there during the last period when there were difficulties about payments and creditors, and there was at least at that point in time, some form of optimism. I just don't think that is there anymore. I think the people of Wyaler understand that a significant circuit breaker needs to be tripped so that their future is ensured, and we need to understand this is not just about the future of Wiler, it's about the future of regional South Australia, and it's about the future of a facility that is of national resilience and national security significance.

Absolutely so. I have been in contact with people and Whaler. In fact, my brother still lives there. I went to school in Whaler, lots of friends there, so I'm well connected in the city. And of course as a former senator went up there during the last period when there were difficulties about payments and creditors, and there was at least at that point in time, some form of optimism. I just don't think that is there anymore. I think the people of Wyaler understand that a significant circuit breaker needs to be tripped so that their future is ensured, and we need to understand this is not just about the future of Wiler, it's about the future of regional South Australia, and it's about the future of a facility that is of national resilience and national security significance.

So I'm just imagining right now. Peter Malanowskis's office. People are running around Rex Is on the radio. Who's saying this? This?

So I'm just imagining right now. Peter Malanowskis's office. People are running around Rex Is on the radio. Who's saying this? This?

This?

This?

What happens next? What happens from here? You've put the call out to play Sanjeev that still works into administration. What happens when you leave this studio? What happens in the weeks lying ahead?

What happens next? What happens from here? You've put the call out to play Sanjeev that still works into administration. What happens when you leave this studio? What happens in the weeks lying ahead?

Well, look, I'm I'm an experienced political player. Politics is about pressure. It's about putting a pressure on the government. And in fact, one of the things that leads me a little bit sort of mystified is why it's Rex Patrick that's doing this and not Vincentazia. I don't understand why there's been silence on the liberal side of the fence for such a big issue. But from my perspective, I care about wiler I care about South Astroine, I care about our national security, being a former member of the Defense Force, and I am not going to let up on this. In fact, it's likely I'll travel up to wire in the next day or so just to catch up with family and some of the people who are really concerned about what's going.

Well, look, I'm I'm an experienced political player. Politics is about pressure. It's about putting a pressure on the government. And in fact, one of the things that leads me a little bit sort of mystified is why it's Rex Patrick that's doing this and not Vincentazia. I don't understand why there's been silence on the liberal side of the fence for such a big issue. But from my perspective, I care about wiler I care about South Astroine, I care about our national security, being a former member of the Defense Force, and I am not going to let up on this. In fact, it's likely I'll travel up to wire in the next day or so just to catch up with family and some of the people who are really concerned about what's going.

On crystal Ball. For me, what happens to wyler An a year from now.

On crystal Ball. For me, what happens to wyler An a year from now.

Well, if nothing's done. In terms of dealing with mister Gupta. It will simply be that sixty year old steel works that has a blast furnace that's a kilometer and a half away from the next stage of processing, which is a BOS. It's just an inefficient place and it's just going to leave everyone in a depressed mood about what the future is. We have to and look election time. We've got a federal election coming up, I think either in April or May, and this is the time in which people have the most power and we need to put pressure on both the state government and the federal government to weigh in here and to demonstrate that they are serious about making Australia's value added manufacturing future sound.

Well, if nothing's done. In terms of dealing with mister Gupta. It will simply be that sixty year old steel works that has a blast furnace that's a kilometer and a half away from the next stage of processing, which is a BOS. It's just an inefficient place and it's just going to leave everyone in a depressed mood about what the future is. We have to and look election time. We've got a federal election coming up, I think either in April or May, and this is the time in which people have the most power and we need to put pressure on both the state government and the federal government to weigh in here and to demonstrate that they are serious about making Australia's value added manufacturing future sound.

From the southeast, we lost part of our pulp mills to China. It devastated the area, devastated the town. It's still going, but can Whala survive without a steel works without a better outcome from what we've got now?

From the southeast, we lost part of our pulp mills to China. It devastated the area, devastated the town. It's still going, but can Whala survive without a steel works without a better outcome from what we've got now?

While will be a very different place if the steel works does not continue. It is the center of economic activity in in Whaler and in the surrounding regions, and that's why it's important for the government to not just sit there and say, well, we're relaxed now the steel works are up and running. We've got to think about the future of this state. If I go back to Thomas Playford when he introduced the Renmark to Wyaler pipeline, that was all part of this process of building up an economic future for South Australia. There are plans in place, and I give Peter malon Ousis credit for his vision in respect of the air Peninsula, but this is a critical part of it. And it's so easy for politicians to talk about the new processing plant, the new factory. But here we've got an existing plant, an existing factory that's largely being left on its loansome and the government does need to step in.

While will be a very different place if the steel works does not continue. It is the center of economic activity in in Whaler and in the surrounding regions, and that's why it's important for the government to not just sit there and say, well, we're relaxed now the steel works are up and running. We've got to think about the future of this state. If I go back to Thomas Playford when he introduced the Renmark to Wyaler pipeline, that was all part of this process of building up an economic future for South Australia. There are plans in place, and I give Peter malon Ousis credit for his vision in respect of the air Peninsula, but this is a critical part of it. And it's so easy for politicians to talk about the new processing plant, the new factory. But here we've got an existing plant, an existing factory that's largely being left on its loansome and the government does need to step in.

How Friends used to join the Spencer Hotel one Foresize Street. So we used to go across the road to the movie theaters, We go to the Velodrome, we go to the Trots, we got to West Whaler Footy Club. It was always a buzzing metropolis. And then I was there not long ago, and it was such a shell of a town from what I remember as a kid. You certainly hope we can get back to that. Thank you for coming in a couple of text messages from our listeners before I let you out of here. Thank god for Rex, Patrick says one. He's the only one who is speaking the absolute truth and the only one making sense. Administration is the only option. Wyjo says, I'd call Sanjeev Gupta a mudguard. It's all shining on top, but underneath, thank you Oojo Jay says, will Wiler be able to supply the type of steel that is required for the new subs?

How Friends used to join the Spencer Hotel one Foresize Street. So we used to go across the road to the movie theaters, We go to the Velodrome, we go to the Trots, we got to West Whaler Footy Club. It was always a buzzing metropolis. And then I was there not long ago, and it was such a shell of a town from what I remember as a kid. You certainly hope we can get back to that. Thank you for coming in a couple of text messages from our listeners before I let you out of here. Thank god for Rex, Patrick says one. He's the only one who is speaking the absolute truth and the only one making sense. Administration is the only option. Wyjo says, I'd call Sanjeev Gupta a mudguard. It's all shining on top, but underneath, thank you Oojo Jay says, will Wiler be able to supply the type of steel that is required for the new subs?

Okay, So the new subs are likely to be built from special steel from Bizaloy in Woollongong. So that's not necessarily a connection into that future submarine project. But for example, all of the facilities that the shipyard that needs to be built in Osborne, that's going to be full of full of structural steel, and we want that to come from and Whaler. You know, there are other defense projects that will that leverage off wireless steel, but we can't be and you know, if we're a nation that can't build steel, you know, really we've got to look at ourselves and say what are we.

Okay, So the new subs are likely to be built from special steel from Bizaloy in Woollongong. So that's not necessarily a connection into that future submarine project. But for example, all of the facilities that the shipyard that needs to be built in Osborne, that's going to be full of full of structural steel, and we want that to come from and Whaler. You know, there are other defense projects that will that leverage off wireless steel, but we can't be and you know, if we're a nation that can't build steel, you know, really we've got to look at ourselves and say what are we.

And this one says, maybe the wireless steel workers, could you send you good the Sydney Harbor property as A, B and B if things gets tough, possibly Rex, thank you for coming in. Keep up the good fight again. It's a great town with great people and they need some help. So fingers crossed we get some sort of resolution. I'll keep fighting well the best. Rex Patrick is the Senate candidate for the Jackie Lambee Party. He wants the Wireless Steel Works put into administration, not to destroy the town of Whaler and the business itself, but just to take mister Gupta out of that. We'll see how that plays out over time.

And this one says, maybe the wireless steel workers, could you send you good the Sydney Harbor property as A, B and B if things gets tough, possibly Rex, thank you for coming in. Keep up the good fight again. It's a great town with great people and they need some help. So fingers crossed we get some sort of resolution. I'll keep fighting well the best. Rex Patrick is the Senate candidate for the Jackie Lambee Party. He wants the Wireless Steel Works put into administration, not to destroy the town of Whaler and the business itself, but just to take mister Gupta out of that. We'll see how that plays out over time.