❓ Mr. Day questions the Minister for Energy about a 15% increase in staff at Western Power and Verve Energy after disaggregation, suggesting it could lead to increased costs. The Minister defends the increase, linking it to major infrastructure investment and criticising the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 158Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN POWER AND VERVE ENERGY — STAFF LEVELS
I refer to the fact that in March 2006 the then Western Power employed 2 919 full-time equivalent staff compared with a combined total of 3 349 FTEs across the four disaggregated power entities 15 months later in June 2007. (1) Was the minister aware of this 15 per cent increase in staff over just 15 months? (2) Did it ever occur to the minister, at any point, that this huge blow-out in staff might lead to upward pressure on costs in the power utilities? (3) If this did not occur to the minister, is he confident that he has the ability and experience to oversee a large organisation such as Verve Energy? Mr F.M. LOGAN
I refer to the fact that in March 2006 the then Western Power employed 2 919 full-time equivalent staff compared with a combined total of 3 349 FTEs across the four disaggregated power entities 15 months later in June 2007. (1) Was the minister aware of this 15 per cent increase in staff over just 15 months? (2) Did it ever occur to the minister, at any point, that this huge blow-out in staff might lead to upward pressure on costs in the power utilities? (3) If this did not occur to the minister, is he confident that he has the ability and experience to oversee a large organisation such as Verve Energy? Mr F.M. LOGAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
(1) Was the minister aware of this 15 per cent increase in staff over just 15 months? (2) Did it ever occur to the minister, at any point, that this huge blow-out in staff might lead to upward pressure on costs in the power utilities? (3) If this did not occur to the minister, is he confident that he has the ability and experience to oversee a large organisation such as Verve Energy? Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: (1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
(2) Did it ever occur to the minister, at any point, that this huge blow-out in staff might lead to upward pressure on costs in the power utilities? (3) If this did not occur to the minister, is he confident that he has the ability and experience to oversee a large organisation such as Verve Energy? Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: (1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
(3) If this did not occur to the minister, is he confident that he has the ability and experience to oversee a large organisation such as Verve Energy? Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: (1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: (1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
(1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
(1) Was the minister aware of this 15 per cent increase in staff over just 15 months? (2) Did it ever occur to the minister, at any point, that this huge blow-out in staff might lead to upward pressure on costs in the power utilities? (3) If this did not occur to the minister, is he confident that he has the ability and experience to oversee a large organisation such as Verve Energy? Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: (1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
(2) Did it ever occur to the minister, at any point, that this huge blow-out in staff might lead to upward pressure on costs in the power utilities? (3) If this did not occur to the minister, is he confident that he has the ability and experience to oversee a large organisation such as Verve Energy? Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: (1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
(3) If this did not occur to the minister, is he confident that he has the ability and experience to oversee a large organisation such as Verve Energy? Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: (1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: (1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
(1)-(3) I am perplexed as to where that question is coming from and where it is actually going—that is, what point the member is trying to make with that question. The Treasurer announced in 2005, and again in 2006, expenditure into the network in Western Australia. That expenditure was to be in two tranches. The total amount of money to be invested into the network of Western Power is $6.3 billion. Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr J.H.D. Day : When was that announced? Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : In the budget of 2005, and in the budget of 2006. That expenditure was to be in two tranches, and the member knows it; I have been telling the member that over and over again. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : Compare that with the investment made by the previous government into anything in Western Power—either into the network, into power generation, or into regional Western Australia. How much did the former government put in? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Cottesloe and the member for South Perth. Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : How much did Western Power, under the leadership of the then Minister for Energy, the member for Cottesloe, put into the network in Western Australia, particularly in regional Western Australia? Virtually nothing. This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australia into the electricity industry. Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Several members interjected. Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : This is the biggest investment ever made in the history of Western Australian into the network to cope with the growth and to rebuild the system. How do members opposite think that is done? Who builds the transmission lines? We have had to get employees into Western Power from the Philippines, South Africa and Europe just to cope with the demand. Of course the staffing levels are going to go up. In Verve Energy, do members opposite know how much money we are putting into maintenance of the fleet? That fleet was run into the ground by the worst Minister for Energy this state has ever seen—the member for Cottesloe. We are putting $140 million into maintenance alone to keep the fleet running in an efficient, effective and competitive manner. We need to have people to do that. We need to have contractors brought on to do that work. Yes, of course the staffing levels have gone up. We have made the largest expenditure in a public utility that this state has ever seen. Someone has to do the work. Does that then ultimately flow on—in answer to the second question—to increases in costs? Of course it does, because ultimately someone has to pay for the network upgrade. We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
We told members opposite that we would give them the report on electricity tariffs, fees and charges going forward. We told them they would get that report well before the election. Members opposite now have that report, and hopefully they have read that report. Members opposite will see in the cost stack in that report the network access charges and reset fees for network tariffs. That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
That is the flowthrough of the costs of investing into the network. That is where the costs get factored in; and, ultimately, the consumer will pay. Are there increases in costs? Yes, of course there are, and they will be slowly brought in as part of the increases in tariffs. As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
As to my competence in doing this job, it is a damn sight better than the member’s, mate! It is a damn sight better than that of the previous Liberal Minister for Energy, who was the worst this state has ever seen.
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