❓ Mr. Ripper questions Premier Barnett about the significant increase in Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) approvals for electricity bills, suggesting the government's price increases are too burdensome. Premier Barnett deflects blame, attributing the issue to the previous Labor government's energy policies.
AnsweredQoN 746Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HARDSHIP UTILITY GRANT SCHEME — ELECTRICITY BILLS
I refer to figures provided in the other house that in September 2009, 475 grants from the hardship utility grant scheme were approved and that in September 2011 this figure had skyrocketed to 1 683. (1) Given additional information that the number of people receiving HUGS assistance to pay their electricity bills has nearly doubled in a year, does the Premier now recognise that his increases have simply been too much for many households to cope with? (2) Does the government recognise that these HUGS approvals represent only the tip of the iceberg of families struggling to pay their bills? (3) Does the Premier support the claim of the Minister for Energy that prices need to go up another 28.8 per cent? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to figures provided in the other house that in September 2009, 475 grants from the hardship utility grant scheme were approved and that in September 2011 this figure had skyrocketed to 1 683. (1) Given additional information that the number of people receiving HUGS assistance to pay their electricity bills has nearly doubled in a year, does the Premier now recognise that his increases have simply been too much for many households to cope with? (2) Does the government recognise that these HUGS approvals represent only the tip of the iceberg of families struggling to pay their bills? (3) Does the Premier support the claim of the Minister for Energy that prices need to go up another 28.8 per cent? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
(1) Given additional information that the number of people receiving HUGS assistance to pay their electricity bills has nearly doubled in a year, does the Premier now recognise that his increases have simply been too much for many households to cope with? (2) Does the government recognise that these HUGS approvals represent only the tip of the iceberg of families struggling to pay their bills? (3) Does the Premier support the claim of the Minister for Energy that prices need to go up another 28.8 per cent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
(2) Does the government recognise that these HUGS approvals represent only the tip of the iceberg of families struggling to pay their bills? (3) Does the Premier support the claim of the Minister for Energy that prices need to go up another 28.8 per cent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
(3) Does the Premier support the claim of the Minister for Energy that prices need to go up another 28.8 per cent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
(1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
(1) Given additional information that the number of people receiving HUGS assistance to pay their electricity bills has nearly doubled in a year, does the Premier now recognise that his increases have simply been too much for many households to cope with? (2) Does the government recognise that these HUGS approvals represent only the tip of the iceberg of families struggling to pay their bills? (3) Does the Premier support the claim of the Minister for Energy that prices need to go up another 28.8 per cent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
(2) Does the government recognise that these HUGS approvals represent only the tip of the iceberg of families struggling to pay their bills? (3) Does the Premier support the claim of the Minister for Energy that prices need to go up another 28.8 per cent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
(3) Does the Premier support the claim of the Minister for Energy that prices need to go up another 28.8 per cent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
(1)–(3) The Leader of the Opposition was the architect of the problem we have in energy. When he was minister, he was provided with a report that said energy prices needed to go up by 72 per cent; he received the report. He sits there and grins, but he absolutely failed as an energy minister. He promised the people of this state he would bring down energy costs, and the exact opposite happened. He failed to contract for gas. He failed to take options for pipeline places. He made mistake after mistake to the point that Western Australia and Perth actually ran out of electricity. The Leader of the Opposition’s performance was probably the worst performance of any single minister under a Labor government in a major portfolio. He promised to reduce prices, and he left the state with a legacy of a 72 per cent likely increase. He left the energy utilities with a cumulative loss of about $1 billion. That was the Leader of the Opposition’s legacy, and he has the hide — Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I left you with the lowest state debt any government has ever inherited. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Plus the $1 billion of accruing debts to the energy utility. Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : No, including every debt, 3.64—you quadrupled it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should stand in front of the mirror and tell the world how fantastic he is, because I think he was the worst energy minister this state has ever, ever seen. Every other energy minister has managed to keep the lights on, except for the Leader of the Opposition when he was energy minister. Every single other minister did. Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You forgot your own performance! Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You ran out of electricity! There were little power plants being built all over Perth to keep the energy supply going. It was an appalling performance. On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
On HUGS — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
The SPEAKER : Members! The Leader of the Opposition! Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Aren’t you brilliant? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did you enjoy the festival? It was good, wasn’t it? Did you come along? It was fantastic. Thousands and thousands came to the festival, except the member for Perth. Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Getting back to HUGS — Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Thank you federal Labor for CHOGM! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The festival was entirely funded by the Western Australian government, not by the federal government. It was entirely a Western Australian initiative. However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
However, getting back to HUGS, the substantial increases in electricity prices have certainly contributed to the financial pressure on families. The group I am most worried about is young families with young children. I think that is the group of people in our community who are finding, for a whole range of reasons, their financial position difficult. The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
The state government has increased the funding for HUGS. We have promoted it. That is in part also the reason why HUGS has been used more. Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! It is not a matter of need. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is clearly true. The previous government had money there, but it did not promote it. We are telling people: if you have a problem — Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We didn’t put up the prices. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the price increase—that is your legacy. But we have told people. We have increased funding. We have promoted it, and said, “If you’ve got a problem with your electricity costs, your electricity bills, come to HUGS and you’ll get some accommodation.” That, plus the electricity price rises, is the reason it has gone up. If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
If I had bungled like the Leader of the Opposition bungled, I would not come in here and raise it every day, but he can keep raising it and we will keep talking about it.
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