Channel 7’s Mike Smithson has spoken on FIVEAA about how he caught up with Nyrstar CEO Hilmar Rode despite Mr Rode sneaking “out through the back door” following a meeting with Treasurer Rob Lucas.
Nyrstar has been in the news following reports jobs will be lost at its Port Pirie smelter and as doubt grows about the company’s ability to repay its almost $300 million loan from the state government.
“Now that’s red rag to a bull with me,” Smitho told FIVEAA breakfast on Wednesday. “If you’re prepared to come in through the front door and say a few words, let’s hear what you’ve got to say after the meeting.”
“It’s happened a million times before… I didn’t come down in the last shower. I took the cameraman and we waited in a very obscure place for them to come down the street and they thought they were in the clear and — bang! — we hit them.”
Mike replayed audio of the awkward moment on Wednesday’s FIVEAA breakfast show.
SMITHSON: “Why are you trying to avoid the media? You came through the front entrance — you’re going out through the back. You’re going the long way home. You could have had a walk around Adelaide through the front door.”
RODE: “We’ve had constructive discussions with the treasurer… I don’t wish to comment any further at this point.”
“If we lose the jobs and lose a portion of the $291 million I wouldn’t be too happy,” Mike said on Wednesday. “You have the boss of the company who is prepared to come here, meet the treasurer… don’t try and sneak out through the back door and not answer the questions.”
