Because he was in the senate (and we try to avoid that place as much as possible) let’s see what Tim Ayres has to say about Tomago on Afternoon Briefing.

(He is the responsible minister, but other ministers took the questions during QT)

We have been engaged in a disciplined way with the owners of this facility, the State Government, for the future pathway through for this facility, the same way we’re engaged in Queensland in a similar facility and the government in Tasmania and Rio Tinto over the future of bell Bay. There is a different approach in each of the states from the facility.

Is the NSW government on the same page?

We’re working very closely with New South Wales. There’s a shared approach and the only way that you get to a successful outcome in a disciplined way that reflects all of the – all of the pressures that there are on governments in these kind of situations, is to have a shared approach between the governments and also the company in its investment strategy and its business plan and commercial viability.

But could it be too expensive?

In every discussion we’ll examine every opportunity. This is an important part of Australia’s aluminium sector. It’s not the only smelter in the country. But it’s important, it’s been there since 1984, it employs a lot of people. We’ll look at every option, but the future is uncertain. I really want to underscore this, there’s not a guaranteed outcome here by any stretch of the imagination.

Which is not what Pat Conroy and Chris Bowen were indicating in question time.