❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Energy about his involvement in the Verve and Synergy re-merger, specifically regarding the timing of seeing the cabinet submission, input into the submission, and reasons for supporting the merger without industry consultation. The Minister avoids directly answering the questions, citing cabinet confidentiality.
AnsweredQoN 42Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SYNERGY
AND VERVE — RE-MERGER
42. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the minister's many publications over the
years as a supporter of small government, privatisation and cost reflectivity
and his scepticism about the merger of Verve and Synergy.
(1) On what
date did the minister first see the cabinet submission on the merger of Verve
and Synergy?
(2) What
input, if any, did the minister have in the cabinet submission that proposed
the merger?
(3) Why did
the minister decide to support the merger rather than firstly consult with
industry and consumer groups?
AND VERVE — RE-MERGER
42. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the minister's many publications over the
years as a supporter of small government, privatisation and cost reflectivity
and his scepticism about the merger of Verve and Synergy.
(1) On what
date did the minister first see the cabinet submission on the merger of Verve
and Synergy?
(2) What
input, if any, did the minister have in the cabinet submission that proposed
the merger?
(3) Why did
the minister decide to support the merger rather than firstly consult with
industry and consumer groups?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I thank the member for the question. As he knows, I do not, and nor should I,
discuss cabinet submissions. That is true.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
That was not the question. I asked you when you saw it.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The
member can talk about it all he wants —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
I never asked you about cabinet discussions.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Yes, you did.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
No, I didn't. I asked you when you saw the submissions.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Yesterday I was asked questions along this line and I said that I would justify
my reasons for supporting the merger of Synergy and Verve. Yes, I am a
long-time supporter of the privatisation of electricity. I have seen it work
and how it works. It works in the eastern states quite well. In 2004 to 2006 we
implemented a different model here, and that model is unique. Yes, it has
allowed a large amount of investment by the private sector —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Are you going to answer the question or not?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Please,
let me answer the question.
It has allowed about $3 billion worth of investment from the
private sector, which is good.
Point of Order
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON :
I would like to assist the minister because I did not ask about any of the
issues that he is discussing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! We are dealing with a point of order.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mrs
L.M. Harvey : What standing order?
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON :
The standing orders require the minister's answer to be relevant to the
question asked.
I asked: on what date did he see the submission; what, if
any, input to the cabinet decision did he have; and why did he decide to
support it without consulting industry? He has not dealt with any of those
three questions. If he could please address the questions I have asked, it
would be appreciated.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr M.D. NAHAN : As
I said right at the start, the member asked for details of a cabinet submission
and I am not going to discuss that.
Mr
D.A. Templeman : Come on, come clean! You know you're hiding
something. Come clean!
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time. Will members please
let the minister try to answer the question? Thank you.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The
member needs to learn that if he asks dud questions, I am not going to give him
a dud answer. He should put some more preparation —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
I just want an answer to the question. It is your obligation, as minister, to
answer the question.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Cannington to order for the first time.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Will members please
allow the Minister for Energy to answer the question?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I
am not going to discuss details of cabinet submissions.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : I didn't ask you that.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Yes, you did.
Mr D.A. Templeman :
Did you see it? Cough up.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Of
course I saw it. Did I sit in cabinet? Yes.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Do
I look at cabinet submissions? Yes. Do I prepare cabinet submissions? Yes. Do I
have discussions in cabinet? Yes. Is that the answer that the member wants? I
am puzzled.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Just tell us the truth.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Members opposite just got it, but they cannot live with the truth!
I thank the member for the question. As he knows, I do not, and nor should I,
discuss cabinet submissions. That is true.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
That was not the question. I asked you when you saw it.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The
member can talk about it all he wants —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
I never asked you about cabinet discussions.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Yes, you did.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
No, I didn't. I asked you when you saw the submissions.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Yesterday I was asked questions along this line and I said that I would justify
my reasons for supporting the merger of Synergy and Verve. Yes, I am a
long-time supporter of the privatisation of electricity. I have seen it work
and how it works. It works in the eastern states quite well. In 2004 to 2006 we
implemented a different model here, and that model is unique. Yes, it has
allowed a large amount of investment by the private sector —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Are you going to answer the question or not?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Please,
let me answer the question.
It has allowed about $3 billion worth of investment from the
private sector, which is good.
Point of Order
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON :
I would like to assist the minister because I did not ask about any of the
issues that he is discussing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! We are dealing with a point of order.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mrs
L.M. Harvey : What standing order?
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON :
The standing orders require the minister's answer to be relevant to the
question asked.
I asked: on what date did he see the submission; what, if
any, input to the cabinet decision did he have; and why did he decide to
support it without consulting industry? He has not dealt with any of those
three questions. If he could please address the questions I have asked, it
would be appreciated.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr M.D. NAHAN : As
I said right at the start, the member asked for details of a cabinet submission
and I am not going to discuss that.
Mr
D.A. Templeman : Come on, come clean! You know you're hiding
something. Come clean!
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Mandurah to order for the first time. Will members please
let the minister try to answer the question? Thank you.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The
member needs to learn that if he asks dud questions, I am not going to give him
a dud answer. He should put some more preparation —
Mr W.J. Johnston :
I just want an answer to the question. It is your obligation, as minister, to
answer the question.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Cannington to order for the first time.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Will members please
allow the Minister for Energy to answer the question?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I
am not going to discuss details of cabinet submissions.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : I didn't ask you that.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Yes, you did.
Mr D.A. Templeman :
Did you see it? Cough up.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Of
course I saw it. Did I sit in cabinet? Yes.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Do
I look at cabinet submissions? Yes. Do I prepare cabinet submissions? Yes. Do I
have discussions in cabinet? Yes. Is that the answer that the member wants? I
am puzzled.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Just tell us the truth.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Members opposite just got it, but they cannot live with the truth!
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