❓ Mr. Nalder questions the Minister for Energy about support for small businesses struggling due to COVID-19, specifically those slightly exceeding the 250 megawatt hour threshold for existing electricity tariff credits. The Minister defends the current approach and highlights other government support measures.
AnsweredQoN 252Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
SMALL BUSINESS — ELECTRICITY TARIFF CREDIT
252. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. A
number of small businesses that are just over the 250 megawatt hours are
struggling with the coronavirus . I understand that the
minister has requested Synergy to look into it further, but my question is:
will the minister do something for small businesses that are struggling, those
that sit underneath the shopping centre or those that are slightly over, that
are struggling through this coronavirus at this time
rather than waiting for some future benefit at some further point in time that
we have not yet determined?
SMALL BUSINESS — ELECTRICITY TARIFF CREDIT
252. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. A
number of small businesses that are just over the 250 megawatt hours are
struggling with the coronavirus . I understand that the
minister has requested Synergy to look into it further, but my question is:
will the minister do something for small businesses that are struggling, those
that sit underneath the shopping centre or those that are slightly over, that
are struggling through this coronavirus at this time
rather than waiting for some future benefit at some further point in time that
we have not yet determined?
AnswerView source ↗
As I say, if the member read the Hansard ,
he would know the answer because I have already given this answer. We had to
make a decision about whom we assisted. We assisted small business customers of
Synergy that were not able to buy electricity in the deregulated market. If we
had gone into the deregulated market, that would have disturbed the operations
of the market, so we would have been favouring one customer over another, and
we did not want to do that. In fact, I had approaches from energy retailers
asking me not to do that because they did not want to have the behemoth of
Synergy trampling on their operations. Indeed, as I explained previously, I have
asked Western Power to be a good corporate citizen in respect of those small
retailers that are competing in the market against large retailers like
Synergy, Alinta and others.
I
also remind everybody that the $2 500 account offset is not the only support the
government is giving to small business. We have also given a range of other relief and support, including
payroll tax relief. We continue to investigate how to do that. Also, the
federal government, which has much deeper pockets than the government of Western
Australia, has given JobKeeper payments so that people's labour costs
can be offset, has given cash flow grants and has provided loan assistance. If
the idea that the only assistance available to small businesses in Western Australia
is the $2 500 offset is the member's, it just shows that he does not
know anything about what he talks about.
he would know the answer because I have already given this answer. We had to
make a decision about whom we assisted. We assisted small business customers of
Synergy that were not able to buy electricity in the deregulated market. If we
had gone into the deregulated market, that would have disturbed the operations
of the market, so we would have been favouring one customer over another, and
we did not want to do that. In fact, I had approaches from energy retailers
asking me not to do that because they did not want to have the behemoth of
Synergy trampling on their operations. Indeed, as I explained previously, I have
asked Western Power to be a good corporate citizen in respect of those small
retailers that are competing in the market against large retailers like
Synergy, Alinta and others.
I
also remind everybody that the $2 500 account offset is not the only support the
government is giving to small business. We have also given a range of other relief and support, including
payroll tax relief. We continue to investigate how to do that. Also, the
federal government, which has much deeper pockets than the government of Western
Australia, has given JobKeeper payments so that people's labour costs
can be offset, has given cash flow grants and has provided loan assistance. If
the idea that the only assistance available to small businesses in Western Australia
is the $2 500 offset is the member's, it just shows that he does not
know anything about what he talks about.
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