❓ The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. McGowan, questions the Premier about a meeting regarding concerns about the residential feed-in tariff scheme. The Premier confirms the meeting occurred and that he was aware of issues with the scheme around the same time.
AnsweredQoN 209Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESIDENTIAL FEED-IN TARIFF SCHEME — CHIEFS
OF STAFF MEETING
209. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
Notice of this question was given this morning. I refer to
the chiefs of staff meeting held on 27 June 2011.
(1) Can the
Premier confirm the former chief of staff to the Minister for Energy raised
concerns about the take-up of the feed-in tariff?
(2) Was the
Premier's chief of staff and/or the Treasurer's chief of staff
present at this meeting?
(3) Will the
Premier table a list of all those who attended that meeting?
(4) When was
the Premier first alerted to the issue of a blow-out in the feed-in tariff
scheme?
OF STAFF MEETING
209. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
Notice of this question was given this morning. I refer to
the chiefs of staff meeting held on 27 June 2011.
(1) Can the
Premier confirm the former chief of staff to the Minister for Energy raised
concerns about the take-up of the feed-in tariff?
(2) Was the
Premier's chief of staff and/or the Treasurer's chief of staff
present at this meeting?
(3) Will the
Premier table a list of all those who attended that meeting?
(4) When was
the Premier first alerted to the issue of a blow-out in the feed-in tariff
scheme?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4)
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for prior notice of the question. In
response, I can confirm that the former chief of staff to the Minister for
Energy discussed the issues relating to the feed-in tariff. He met with both
the chief of staff to the Premier and the chief of staff to the Treasurer.
There are no formal records of that meeting; it was simply a discussion —
Mr M. McGowan :
When? He met with them at the meeting, you mean?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, he met with them .
Mr M. McGowan :
Afterwards?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He met with them. That is the question I am answering: did he meet with them?
Yes.
Mr M. McGowan : It
is actually quite significant.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Leader of the Opposition might think it is significant; I do not.
He met with my chief of staff and
the Treasurer's chief of staff and he outlined what he would describe
as his concerns. Around the same time, prior to that, to answer the Leader of
the Opposition's third question, yes, I was aware that there were problems
with the scheme. I was very much aware, as was the Treasurer, that the scheme
was running up to its 150-megawatt cap and indeed may have even passed it. We
did not believe it had passed it, but it was running up at a fast rate. The
answer is: yes, the then chief of staff to the Minister for Energy had a
meeting with my chief of staff and the Treasurer's chief of staff. I
was not there. The Treasurer was not there. There were no minutes. It was
simply a meeting.
[See page 2488.]
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for prior notice of the question. In
response, I can confirm that the former chief of staff to the Minister for
Energy discussed the issues relating to the feed-in tariff. He met with both
the chief of staff to the Premier and the chief of staff to the Treasurer.
There are no formal records of that meeting; it was simply a discussion —
Mr M. McGowan :
When? He met with them at the meeting, you mean?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, he met with them .
Mr M. McGowan :
Afterwards?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He met with them. That is the question I am answering: did he meet with them?
Yes.
Mr M. McGowan : It
is actually quite significant.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Leader of the Opposition might think it is significant; I do not.
He met with my chief of staff and
the Treasurer's chief of staff and he outlined what he would describe
as his concerns. Around the same time, prior to that, to answer the Leader of
the Opposition's third question, yes, I was aware that there were problems
with the scheme. I was very much aware, as was the Treasurer, that the scheme
was running up to its 150-megawatt cap and indeed may have even passed it. We
did not believe it had passed it, but it was running up at a fast rate. The
answer is: yes, the then chief of staff to the Minister for Energy had a
meeting with my chief of staff and the Treasurer's chief of staff. I
was not there. The Treasurer was not there. There were no minutes. It was
simply a meeting.
[See page 2488.]
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