❓ Mr. Nalder questions the government's energy plan, specifically regarding renewable energy targets and the potential cost impact on pensioners. The Premier defends the government's commitment to the existing renewable energy target and highlights the diversity of WA's energy supply.
AnsweredQoN 569Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY PRICES
569. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I take
the personal insult as a compliment, Premier.
What is the government's
energy plan, will it be accepting Bill Shorten's national 50 per cent
renewable energy target, and how much will pensioners be slugged for this
policy?
569. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I take
the personal insult as a compliment, Premier.
What is the government's
energy plan, will it be accepting Bill Shorten's national 50 per cent
renewable energy target, and how much will pensioners be slugged for this
policy?
AnswerView source ↗
There is currently a renewable
energy target in place that was brought in, as far as I am aware, by Tony Abbott.
It is a requirement for 23 per cent to 26 per cent.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : By 2020, you want 23 per cent renewables.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Yes, 23 per cent. That advocate of action on climate change,
Tony Abbott, brought in the renewable energy target that this government will
adhere to. Whatever happens in the future is what happens, but we have been
very clear that we will comply with the renewable energy target put in place by
the national government. That is what happens.
Mr
D.C. Nalder interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Tony Abbott brought one in. We are complying with that renewable
energy target, but I want to make it very clear that I support renewable
energy. I am a fan of renewable energy. I think renewable energy is good.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members; on both sides!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : We need a mix inside the energy system and we are very
fortunate in Western Australia to have very diverse suppliers of energy into
our grid, unlike the eastern states. The eastern states are very vulnerable,
whereas our diversity is a strength. One aspect of our diversity is renewable
energy. If we drive around the suburbs of Perth, we will find that people have
rooftop solar.
Mr
D.C. Nalder interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : The Liberal Party in government wanted to rip up those
contracts. Do members remember that one? Do they remember that budget? It was
going to rip up the contracts with all the renewable energy suppliers. Do
members remember that? That one lasted three days, I think. That might have
been an example of the limited political will of the former government. Limited
political will combined with gross stupidity equals what the Liberal Party did
in government.
energy target in place that was brought in, as far as I am aware, by Tony Abbott.
It is a requirement for 23 per cent to 26 per cent.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : By 2020, you want 23 per cent renewables.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Yes, 23 per cent. That advocate of action on climate change,
Tony Abbott, brought in the renewable energy target that this government will
adhere to. Whatever happens in the future is what happens, but we have been
very clear that we will comply with the renewable energy target put in place by
the national government. That is what happens.
Mr
D.C. Nalder interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Tony Abbott brought one in. We are complying with that renewable
energy target, but I want to make it very clear that I support renewable
energy. I am a fan of renewable energy. I think renewable energy is good.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members; on both sides!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : We need a mix inside the energy system and we are very
fortunate in Western Australia to have very diverse suppliers of energy into
our grid, unlike the eastern states. The eastern states are very vulnerable,
whereas our diversity is a strength. One aspect of our diversity is renewable
energy. If we drive around the suburbs of Perth, we will find that people have
rooftop solar.
Mr
D.C. Nalder interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : The Liberal Party in government wanted to rip up those
contracts. Do members remember that one? Do they remember that budget? It was
going to rip up the contracts with all the renewable energy suppliers. Do
members remember that? That one lasted three days, I think. That might have
been an example of the limited political will of the former government. Limited
political will combined with gross stupidity equals what the Liberal Party did
in government.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.