❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the deferral of the Pinjar to Geraldton electricity transmission line due to budget increases. Hon. Peter Collier acknowledges the cost blow-out and assures that the government is exploring alternative energy solutions and has not abandoned the mid-west region.
AnsweredQoN 492Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
pinjar to geraldton electricity transmission line
(1) Given that today the budget has been tabled, can he confirm that the 330-kilovolt line from Pinjar to Geraldton has been deferred? (2) Does that mean that the government has abandoned this very important project for the mid-west? (3) What options are now being considered to deliver energy to Gindalbie’s Karara project? (4) Will the existing 132-kilovolt line be able to connect future wind generation projects and the Kalimba baseload power station to the grid? Hon PETER COLLIER
(1) Given that today the budget has been tabled, can he confirm that the 330-kilovolt line from Pinjar to Geraldton has been deferred? (2) Does that mean that the government has abandoned this very important project for the mid-west? (3) What options are now being considered to deliver energy to Gindalbie’s Karara project? (4) Will the existing 132-kilovolt line be able to connect future wind generation projects and the Kalimba baseload power station to the grid? Hon PETER COLLIER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
(2) Does that mean that the government has abandoned this very important project for the mid-west? (3) What options are now being considered to deliver energy to Gindalbie’s Karara project? (4) Will the existing 132-kilovolt line be able to connect future wind generation projects and the Kalimba baseload power station to the grid? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
(3) What options are now being considered to deliver energy to Gindalbie’s Karara project? (4) Will the existing 132-kilovolt line be able to connect future wind generation projects and the Kalimba baseload power station to the grid? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
(4) Will the existing 132-kilovolt line be able to connect future wind generation projects and the Kalimba baseload power station to the grid? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
(1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
(2) Does that mean that the government has abandoned this very important project for the mid-west? (3) What options are now being considered to deliver energy to Gindalbie’s Karara project? (4) Will the existing 132-kilovolt line be able to connect future wind generation projects and the Kalimba baseload power station to the grid? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
(3) What options are now being considered to deliver energy to Gindalbie’s Karara project? (4) Will the existing 132-kilovolt line be able to connect future wind generation projects and the Kalimba baseload power station to the grid? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
(4) Will the existing 132-kilovolt line be able to connect future wind generation projects and the Kalimba baseload power station to the grid? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
(1)-(4) I thank the honourable member for the question. It is an appropriate question. I have said in the past that I can very much appreciate the concerns of those in the mid-west region, particularly Gindalbie and Geraldton. I have said previously that the cost of the line from Pinjar to Moonyoonooka has blown out considerably, and that needs to be understood. The original Western Power submission for that line was about $290 million. I said previously that the budget submission was $600 million. I was wrong; it is $689 million. The Western Power submissions for that line have increased by about 134 per cent. Obviously there are evidentiary problems in establishing those figures. The government looked at those figures and thought, “For goodness sake, if it went up 134 per cent in six months, what will happen if we put it off or we start now and in another six months it goes up another 50 per cent?” We could be looking at $1 billion for a line for which there might be an alternative. Those comments are to preface my response. Yes, the line has been deferred. Hon George Cash : How could it possibly go up that much? Surely you have to look at Western Power’s management. Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Absolutely. There are some issues with the establishment of those figures. How on earth we can assume that they would be correct figures when they increased from $289 million to over $600 million — Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon Kim Chance : Welcome to government. Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I thank the member. That is not a particularly pleasant aspect of my portfolio. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You do not have any other portfolios. The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I will have to go down the path of rescheduling the members who I call to ask their question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I am sorry that the shadow minister has such disregard for her portfolio. The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
The government has to look at Western Power’s cost estimates and the appropriateness of the route of the line. I said in a previous response that it took a zigzag route. We have to determine whether that is the most appropriate route. We also have to look at the viability of alternative energy resources. The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
The possibility of a plant in Geraldton is an option that I have already floated. I can assure the member that it is certainly something that will be considered. In terms of abandoning the people of the mid-west in Gindalbie, Oakajee and Geraldton, no, we certainly will not abandon them. A working group is assessing this as a matter of priority. The working group comprises representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance, my office, the Department of State Development and Western Power. It will be a short review into the line. The group will report to me at the end of June and we will make a decision then. There will be some uncertainty in the mid-west. I want to make it quite clear, unambiguously, that we are not abandoning the mid-west. We are taking a pragmatic approach. We are looking down the barrel of an almost $700 million program, which six months ago was less than half that amount. We want to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of the mid-west.
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