PICKERING: Senator, first up, lets just go through some of those quotes again from today ...

FERGUSON: The resources boom is over.
WONG: I think the mining booms still got a long way to run.
FERGUSON: Penny Wong and I are saying the same thing.

PICKERING: I guess my first question is ... Wha? [laughter]
WONG: If we look at the full content of what Martin and I are saying, we actually are both saying the same thing. Both of us are saying that the high prices were getting for commodities at the moment are tailing off, but weve still got a lot of investment to come. Theres still a lot of construction going on in the mining industry.
PICKERING: But you can understand how its confusing and the average person and by that I mean pretty much everyone in the country [laughter] would see those statements and think, hang on, shouldnt the Government at least both be singing out of the same songbook on this one.
WONG: I dont reckon you want Martin or I singing actually, to be honest with you [laughter].
MCCABE: Senator, the shelving of the Olympic Dam proposal what impact do you think thats going to have on the state of South Australia?
WONG: Its a really disappointing decision and certainly Im very disappointed, the Premiers very disappointed and so are many South Australian by the decision. But resources are still there and of course there are other investments going into South Australia, for example the Federal Government has ensured that were investing in Holdens, in the car industry there opposed by the Opposition but thats an important investment. Of course theres the submarines project, and a lot of the spin off from the biggest defence project in Australias history is something that will do South Australia in good stead.
MCCABE: Minister, the Opposition Leader didnt have a particularly good 24-hours on this issue, but hes right in saying that mining companies are very concerned about the impact of the mining tax, isnt he?
WONG: A couple of things on that first, on the one hand, Mr Abbott says the mining tax is a dreadful thing for the Olympic Dam project. On the other hand, the facts are that the mining tax doesnt apply to the output of Olympic Dam. What weve seen unfortunately is a pretty bad scare campaign, from the Leader of the Opposition, and one that just doesnt stack up on the facts.
ROSS: Senator, when you hear the word boom, are you like me and do you think of the Paul Lekakis song Boom, Boom, Boom, Lets go back to my room? [laughter]
WONG: Ah ... afraid not.
ROSS: Okay, its wasnt an offer [laughter] ... just a question.
WONG: Im glad weve cleared that up [laughter].
PICKERING: ... And I think were all proud that weve asked you at least one question you havent been asked by anyone else today [laughter]. Penny, thanks very much for your time tonight.
WONG: Good to be with you.
ENDS