Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague is wondering whether we will actually block the deal after the 30-day period, that is, after we have heard interventions from the bidding company.
As I mentioned in my earlier address, we cannot comment publicly on the decision that the Minister of Industry made yesterday. There is a 30-day period during which we are legally obligated to wait and see if there are further interventions or undertakings from BHP. We cannot, as the opposition would have us do, make a decision today. It is against the law. We are legally obligated to wait 30 days.
My colleagues on the opposition benches are calling for an immediate answer. That just shows how ill-informed they are. It is against the law. I urge my colleagues to inform themselves better by reading the act.