The South Australian Opposition has announced it will back the passage of the Olympic Dam expansion bill, ensuring the legislation’s passage through State Parliament before Christmas.

 

South Australian Liberal leader Isobel Redmond said her party will support the bill without amendment through the lower house.

 

"There are things that maybe could have been better for the state but with the economic circumstances, with the massive debt, we felt that economically we could not afford for this project not to go ahead,” Ms Redmond said.

 

State Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis welcomed the bipartisan support from the Opposition, but expects that the State Greens will oppose the bill.

 

"I'm sure that the Greens and others will do what they can to stop this, but now that the two major parties have looked at this in detail this should be a very steady passage of this legislation through the Parliament and that's a great symbol for South Australian business all around the world,” Mr Koutsantonis said.