❓ A Liberal MP questions the Minister for Energy about a promised electricity price reduction for small businesses that did not occur. The Minister deflects, linking the issue to broader electricity reform and blaming the former managing director of Western Power.
AnsweredQoN 1287Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the August 2002 plan by Western Power to reduce electricity prices by 10 per cent for around 65 000 small businesses, including small supermarkets and manufacturing, food and retail outlets. Why has this price reduction not occurred? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
I am pleased to hear that the Liberal Party has taken a positive first step towards support of electricity reform. I now understand that the Liberal Party supports a three-way split of Western Power but not the four-way split that is part of the Government’s integrated package. Dr G.I. Gallop: It always has trouble with the last quarter. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I am pleased to hear that the Liberal Party has taken a positive first step towards support of electricity reform. I now understand that the Liberal Party supports a three-way split of Western Power but not the four-way split that is part of the Government’s integrated package. Dr G.I. Gallop: It always has trouble with the last quarter. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
I am pleased to hear that the Liberal Party has taken a positive first step towards support of electricity reform. I now understand that the Liberal Party supports a three-way split of Western Power but not the four-way split that is part of the Government’s integrated package. Dr G.I. Gallop: It always has trouble with the last quarter. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Dr G.I. Gallop: It always has trouble with the last quarter. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I am pleased to hear that the Liberal Party has taken a positive first step towards support of electricity reform. I now understand that the Liberal Party supports a three-way split of Western Power but not the four-way split that is part of the Government’s integrated package. Dr G.I. Gallop: It always has trouble with the last quarter. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
I am pleased to hear that the Liberal Party has taken a positive first step towards support of electricity reform. I now understand that the Liberal Party supports a three-way split of Western Power but not the four-way split that is part of the Government’s integrated package. Dr G.I. Gallop: It always has trouble with the last quarter. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Dr G.I. Gallop: It always has trouble with the last quarter. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is the premiership term. The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
The difficulty with the three-way split is that it would cost as much to implement as the four-way split but would not deliver the same benefits to consumers. I am still hopeful that the Liberal Party and individual Liberal members as well as the Greens (WA), One Nation and Independent members in the upper House will consider the merits of the plan and the weight of expert and industry opinion from the business sector, the mining industry and the renewable energy industry. I hope they will consider the way in which the planning has been implemented and that they will endorse something that will deliver sustainable downward pressure on electricity prices in this State. We are not about one year’s decision; we are about a restructured and reformed electricity supply industry in this State that can reduce electricity costs. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was about a 10 per cent reduction in electricity costs for small to medium-sized businesses. I would like an answer about that. The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
The SPEAKER: Quite often members who ask questions do not like the answer. The minister is talking about electricity reform. I presume it is part of the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER: The point I am making is that there is a way to get sustainable lower real electricity prices in this State, and that is to support the Government’s integrated reform package. The Liberal Party has conceded that reform of Western Power is necessary, but it has a half-baked model that will cost - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I am getting to the point members opposite are agitated about. The Liberal Party has a half-baked model that would cost as much as our integrated model but would deliver significantly fewer benefits. The main game is the electricity supply industry into the future and the prices we will get out of that system. I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
I come to the issue of whether Western Power made a proposal. The former managing director of Western Power made a comment at a press conference. That was his personal view. He did not have the authority of the board or the organisation to say that. He never canvassed the matter with the Government. He did not take it any further. It was not a Western Power proposal, but I can assure members that when Western Power is exposed to competition - Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You stopped the 10 per cent price cut. That is what happened. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Members can be sure - Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Now we know you stopped it. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition has made an astonishing allegation. The managing director of Western Power, who later finished in that position following a decision of the board, made a comment at a press conference that he did not take any further. No proposal came from Western Power to the Government for the Government to make a decision in the budget process on that matter.
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