Opposition Leader questions the Leader of the National Party regarding the potential sale of Horizon Power's Pilbara network and its impact on regional WA. The Leader of the National Party provides a non-committal response, stating due diligence will be performed if the asset comes up for sale.

AnsweredQoN 228Legislative Assembly
Asked
7 April 2016
Portfolio
Leader of the National Party

QuestionView source ↗

HORIZON POWER — PILBARA NETWORK
228. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Leader of the
National Party:
I refer to reports that the
Treasurer is planning to sell Horizon Power's Pilbara network of poles
and wires and to the significant impact that this could have on regional Western
Australia.
(1) Will National
Party members of Parliament support the privatisation of Horizon's
Pilbara network?
(2) Is the Leader
of the National Party willing to jeopardise the reliability of service to towns
and communities in the Pilbara?
(3) Will this sale
mean a loss of the profitable part of Horizon's business, thereby
putting up costs for all other electricity consumers across WA?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the Leader of the Opposition
for the question.
(1)–(3) The
Leader of the Opposition well knows that we supported, through last year's
budget process, a number of assets, and consideration of those assets for sale.
Assets have been sold by the government, one of which was Perth Market
Authority. We have also supported the securitisation of the Keystart loan book.
The Leader of the Opposition knows Utah Point is in process now, but we did not
support the sale of Fremantle port. My point is that when and if an asset comes
up for sale, the National Party will give it the due diligence it deserves. We
will, of course, do that in the context of outcomes for regional Western Australia.
In respect to the other points, they are basically not applicable because it is
not before government at this point in time.

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