❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Energy about the breakup of Western Power and potential negative consequences like price hikes and power shortages, drawing comparisons to other states. The Minister avoids direct answers, focusing on addressing high electricity costs and criticising the Opposition's stance on economic development.
AnsweredQoN 925Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to his plan to break up Western Power into at least three separate businesses as outlined in the report of the Electricity Reform Task Force. (1) Does the minister agree with the task force chairman, John Hyslop, as reported in The Australian today that breaking up Western Power would not guarantee lower electricity prices? (2) Will the minister give a guarantee that power shortages, brownouts and price hikes due to market failure will not occur in Western Australia as they have occurred in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia following the introduction of similar policies? Mr RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
(1) Does the minister agree with the task force chairman, John Hyslop, as reported in The Australian today that breaking up Western Power would not guarantee lower electricity prices? (2) Will the minister give a guarantee that power shortages, brownouts and price hikes due to market failure will not occur in Western Australia as they have occurred in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia following the introduction of similar policies? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
(2) Will the minister give a guarantee that power shortages, brownouts and price hikes due to market failure will not occur in Western Australia as they have occurred in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia following the introduction of similar policies? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
(1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
(1) Does the minister agree with the task force chairman, John Hyslop, as reported in The Australian today that breaking up Western Power would not guarantee lower electricity prices? (2) Will the minister give a guarantee that power shortages, brownouts and price hikes due to market failure will not occur in Western Australia as they have occurred in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia following the introduction of similar policies? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
(2) Will the minister give a guarantee that power shortages, brownouts and price hikes due to market failure will not occur in Western Australia as they have occurred in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia following the introduction of similar policies? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
(1)-(2) I will guarantee that this Government will do something about the 22 per cent extra that Western Australians pay for electricity compared with that paid by people in other States. I will do something about the 29 per cent extra that Western Australian businesses pay for electricity compared with that paid by businesses in other States. There are many differences between the Leader of the Opposition and us, but there is one particular difference that is important to this argument: we are not in favour of privatisation. Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr Barnett: That is what you are doing. Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr RIPPER: We propose that Western Power and its successor organisations, should that be the final outcome of the deliberations of government, will remain in public ownership. If electricity utility organisations are in public ownership, there is a last resort capacity in the event of market failure because the state generation, retail and networks are publicly owned. Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr Barnett: It did not work in Queensland. Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr RIPPER: We are not proceeding with this in some silly, rushed fashion. I have commissioned an expert group to report. It is going through a thorough process of consultation. I will be interested to see whether the Leader of the Opposition makes a submission and allows his arguments to be subjected to scrutiny by the experts. The task force is conducting a program of consultation. A discussion paper was released last November and another was released this week. A final report will be released in August and there will be a further period during which the Government will consider its response. We are going about it in a proper, sensible, thorough and rigorous way. We are tackling an issue that is of major importance to the long-term economic development of this State. I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
I am amazed at the Opposition. I have heard the member for Nedlands attack government support that has allowed the Emirates airline to provide a direct service to Western Australia to support the tourism industry. During question time, I heard the Leader of the Opposition attack the hi-smelt project and electricity reform. I have seen transcripts of comments made on radio by the Leader of the Opposition casting doubt on the infrastructure support that we are providing for the gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula. He is a saboteur, a wrecker and an anti-development person who, for purely partisan politics, will wreck the economic development of this State if he gets half a chance. I do not ask this of the Leader of the Opposition because he is probably beyond saving. I ask the colleagues of the Leader of the Opposition to reflect on whether they support the economic development of this State or whether they will join their desperate leader in attacking the Burrup infrastructure, the hi-smelt project, the Emirates airline support and electricity reform. They should make up their minds: will they play partisan politics with the development of this State, or will they be sensible about the State’s long-term economic development? Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time!
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