❓ Opposition Leader questions Premier about projected electricity price hikes. Premier deflects, linking increases to the federal Labor's carbon tax and criticising the state opposition's energy policy.
AnsweredQoN 238Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY PRICES — INCREASES
238. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's comments in this house on 16
May 2012 regarding electricity price increases when he said —
people have basically copped about as much
as they can bear
(1) Can the
Premier confirm that his budget papers reveal an additional 25 per cent
electricity price hike after the next election?
(2) Will the
Premier explain to the people of Western Australia, who have copped as much as
they can bear, why a further 25 per cent price hike is needed?
(3) Will the
Premier's price rises in the forward estimates take the price of
electricity above cost reflectivity?
238. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's comments in this house on 16
May 2012 regarding electricity price increases when he said —
people have basically copped about as much
as they can bear
(1) Can the
Premier confirm that his budget papers reveal an additional 25 per cent
electricity price hike after the next election?
(2) Will the
Premier explain to the people of Western Australia, who have copped as much as
they can bear, why a further 25 per cent price hike is needed?
(3) Will the
Premier's price rises in the forward estimates take the price of
electricity above cost reflectivity?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
sincerely thank the Leader of the Opposition for that question, because it
reminds me and every Western Australian that this year electricity prices will
rise by 3.5 per cent, which is essentially the rate of inflation. It also reminds people that there will be a big rise in the price
of electricity because of Labor's carbon tax—about nine per cent—which
I understand the Leader of the Opposition supports. I have asked the question
several times, although not for a while. Again, can I just check on this side:
who supports the carbon tax? Anyone?
Several government members: No!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Clear on this side—100 per cent opposition. I now ask
again: who on that side supports the carbon tax? Anyone?
Several opposition members
interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Does anyone care about the cost of living and the carbon tax?
Does anyone in the Labor Party support the carbon tax? Anyone?
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I think Hansard should record on the public record that not
one member of the Labor Party could indicate that they support the carbon tax.
I will have to tell Julia! I will have to ring Julia and tell her that Labor —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I will get the
hotline out, the red phone —
The
SPEAKER : I think you both had an opportunity on both sides of this place to
say what you wanted to say. Premier, I do not know that that is the question
you were asked. I hope that you will return to the question asked by the Leader
of the Opposition.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity prices.
Mr
R.H. Cook : Be honest this time! Tell us the truth!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Labor Party should tell us whether it supports the carbon tax! Surely
opposition members have had enough time to think about it to make a decision.
Surely they have thought about it. A 3.5 per cent increase in electricity
prices in line with the inflation rate will take some of the cost-of-living
pressures off Perth households. The cost-of-living pressures are due to not
only utility prices, but also property, rentals and food prices, the price of
beer and whatever else—all sorts of things. We have done what we promised to do.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Forrestfield, I formally call you to order for the
first time today. Member for Cockburn, I formally call you to order for the
first time today. The Leader of the Opposition has asked the question—nobody
else. I expect to hear the Premier answer it. I am sure that the Leader of the
Opposition is more than capable of framing a supplementary question if he needs
to. He does not need assistance from anybody else at this point.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : A 3.5 per cent increase is, I think, the minimum that we
could achieve to maintain viability in the energy sector. It has been well
received by the Western Australian public as a responsible —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I recall the Labor Party running around last year telling
anyone and everyone who would listen that electricity prices would go up by 23 per
cent. What did they go up by last year? They went up by five per cent. They got
it wrong. What are we indicating for next year? We are indicating an increase
of five per cent. Therefore, the result will be five per cent, 3.5 per cent,
five per cent. What is Labor's policy? It is 10 per cent, 10 per cent,
10 per cent, 10 per cent, 10 per cent, 10 per cent and 10 per cent. That is
seven 10 per cents! That is Labor's policy, plus nine per cent for the
carbon tax, which it does support, does it not? I am going to have to ring
Julia. She will give the state Labor Party an instruction because it cannot
make its own decisions in this state. They are made by either the union
movement or the federal party.
The
SPEAKER : Members, I think you will all have an opportunity over the next
few days to put your points. I am sure you will and you can develop them. I do
not know that consistent yelling is making a point to anybody, apart from those
in the gallery, who must walk away from this place on a regular basis and
wonder what is going on.
sincerely thank the Leader of the Opposition for that question, because it
reminds me and every Western Australian that this year electricity prices will
rise by 3.5 per cent, which is essentially the rate of inflation. It also reminds people that there will be a big rise in the price
of electricity because of Labor's carbon tax—about nine per cent—which
I understand the Leader of the Opposition supports. I have asked the question
several times, although not for a while. Again, can I just check on this side:
who supports the carbon tax? Anyone?
Several government members: No!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Clear on this side—100 per cent opposition. I now ask
again: who on that side supports the carbon tax? Anyone?
Several opposition members
interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Does anyone care about the cost of living and the carbon tax?
Does anyone in the Labor Party support the carbon tax? Anyone?
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I think Hansard should record on the public record that not
one member of the Labor Party could indicate that they support the carbon tax.
I will have to tell Julia! I will have to ring Julia and tell her that Labor —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I will get the
hotline out, the red phone —
The
SPEAKER : I think you both had an opportunity on both sides of this place to
say what you wanted to say. Premier, I do not know that that is the question
you were asked. I hope that you will return to the question asked by the Leader
of the Opposition.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity prices.
Mr
R.H. Cook : Be honest this time! Tell us the truth!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Labor Party should tell us whether it supports the carbon tax! Surely
opposition members have had enough time to think about it to make a decision.
Surely they have thought about it. A 3.5 per cent increase in electricity
prices in line with the inflation rate will take some of the cost-of-living
pressures off Perth households. The cost-of-living pressures are due to not
only utility prices, but also property, rentals and food prices, the price of
beer and whatever else—all sorts of things. We have done what we promised to do.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Forrestfield, I formally call you to order for the
first time today. Member for Cockburn, I formally call you to order for the
first time today. The Leader of the Opposition has asked the question—nobody
else. I expect to hear the Premier answer it. I am sure that the Leader of the
Opposition is more than capable of framing a supplementary question if he needs
to. He does not need assistance from anybody else at this point.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : A 3.5 per cent increase is, I think, the minimum that we
could achieve to maintain viability in the energy sector. It has been well
received by the Western Australian public as a responsible —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I recall the Labor Party running around last year telling
anyone and everyone who would listen that electricity prices would go up by 23 per
cent. What did they go up by last year? They went up by five per cent. They got
it wrong. What are we indicating for next year? We are indicating an increase
of five per cent. Therefore, the result will be five per cent, 3.5 per cent,
five per cent. What is Labor's policy? It is 10 per cent, 10 per cent,
10 per cent, 10 per cent, 10 per cent, 10 per cent and 10 per cent. That is
seven 10 per cents! That is Labor's policy, plus nine per cent for the
carbon tax, which it does support, does it not? I am going to have to ring
Julia. She will give the state Labor Party an instruction because it cannot
make its own decisions in this state. They are made by either the union
movement or the federal party.
The
SPEAKER : Members, I think you will all have an opportunity over the next
few days to put your points. I am sure you will and you can develop them. I do
not know that consistent yelling is making a point to anybody, apart from those
in the gallery, who must walk away from this place on a regular basis and
wonder what is going on.
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