❓ The Minister expresses disappointment at the federal Howard government's rejection of Perth's Solar Cities bid, highlighting the inequity compared to other states. They then announce a commitment from Kevin Rudd to fund Perth as a solar city under a Labor government.
AnsweredQoN 419Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOLAR CITIES PROGRAM - PERTH BID
Can the minister update the house on the latest bid to make Perth a solar city? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
Can the minister update the house on the latest bid to make Perth a solar city? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
I, like the member for Perth, was clearly very disappointed recently when the Howard government overlooked very strong Solar Cities bids from both Perth and Kalgoorlie. Both of those bids were short-listed. There was a short list of about 11 bids Australia-wide. Bidders were requested to submit a business case for commonwealth funding under the national Solar Cities program. The Perth Solar Cities bid was acknowledged by the other Solar Cities bidders, and politicians from all sides of politics in Western Australia, as being one of the strongest bids for funding under the federal government’s Solar Cities funding program. It was in fact one of the best value-for-money bids. The decision to ignore Western Australia’s bids means that all mainland states, except Western Australia, were awarded Solar Cities funding. For example, in South Australia, Adelaide would be a solar city; in Queensland, Townsville would be a solar city; in New South Wales, Blacktown would be a solar city; in the Northern Territory, Alice Springs would be a solar city; in Victoria, central Victoria would be a solar city. I am sure that all members can guess what is missing from this list. Only Western Australia was not awarded Solar Cities funding by the Howard government despite having a couple of the very best bids. Our submission made a compelling case for Perth to become a solar city. It demonstrated how Perth could lead the nation in the application of energy saving techniques in existing communities, including the use of smart power meters, photovoltaic cells, cost-reflective pricing, solar technologies and so forth. However, in yet another snub to Western Australians, the Western Australian bid was ignored while five other cities around Australia were awarded anything up to $15 million for their bids. I am delighted that the member for Perth has asked me the question today because I can now inform the house that all is not lost. Kevin Rudd announced today that under a Rudd Labor government, Perth would be awarded $13.9 million so that we too could have a solar city. It shows that a Rudd Labor government will be serious about tackling climate change and the clean energy revolution. It also indicates that he will give Western Australia its fair share of revenue that is raised in the state and taken into the federal system. I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I, like the member for Perth, was clearly very disappointed recently when the Howard government overlooked very strong Solar Cities bids from both Perth and Kalgoorlie. Both of those bids were short-listed. There was a short list of about 11 bids Australia-wide. Bidders were requested to submit a business case for commonwealth funding under the national Solar Cities program. The Perth Solar Cities bid was acknowledged by the other Solar Cities bidders, and politicians from all sides of politics in Western Australia, as being one of the strongest bids for funding under the federal government’s Solar Cities funding program. It was in fact one of the best value-for-money bids. The decision to ignore Western Australia’s bids means that all mainland states, except Western Australia, were awarded Solar Cities funding. For example, in South Australia, Adelaide would be a solar city; in Queensland, Townsville would be a solar city; in New South Wales, Blacktown would be a solar city; in the Northern Territory, Alice Springs would be a solar city; in Victoria, central Victoria would be a solar city. I am sure that all members can guess what is missing from this list. Only Western Australia was not awarded Solar Cities funding by the Howard government despite having a couple of the very best bids. Our submission made a compelling case for Perth to become a solar city. It demonstrated how Perth could lead the nation in the application of energy saving techniques in existing communities, including the use of smart power meters, photovoltaic cells, cost-reflective pricing, solar technologies and so forth. However, in yet another snub to Western Australians, the Western Australian bid was ignored while five other cities around Australia were awarded anything up to $15 million for their bids. I am delighted that the member for Perth has asked me the question today because I can now inform the house that all is not lost. Kevin Rudd announced today that under a Rudd Labor government, Perth would be awarded $13.9 million so that we too could have a solar city. It shows that a Rudd Labor government will be serious about tackling climate change and the clean energy revolution. It also indicates that he will give Western Australia its fair share of revenue that is raised in the state and taken into the federal system. I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
I, like the member for Perth, was clearly very disappointed recently when the Howard government overlooked very strong Solar Cities bids from both Perth and Kalgoorlie. Both of those bids were short-listed. There was a short list of about 11 bids Australia-wide. Bidders were requested to submit a business case for commonwealth funding under the national Solar Cities program. The Perth Solar Cities bid was acknowledged by the other Solar Cities bidders, and politicians from all sides of politics in Western Australia, as being one of the strongest bids for funding under the federal government’s Solar Cities funding program. It was in fact one of the best value-for-money bids. The decision to ignore Western Australia’s bids means that all mainland states, except Western Australia, were awarded Solar Cities funding. For example, in South Australia, Adelaide would be a solar city; in Queensland, Townsville would be a solar city; in New South Wales, Blacktown would be a solar city; in the Northern Territory, Alice Springs would be a solar city; in Victoria, central Victoria would be a solar city. I am sure that all members can guess what is missing from this list. Only Western Australia was not awarded Solar Cities funding by the Howard government despite having a couple of the very best bids. Our submission made a compelling case for Perth to become a solar city. It demonstrated how Perth could lead the nation in the application of energy saving techniques in existing communities, including the use of smart power meters, photovoltaic cells, cost-reflective pricing, solar technologies and so forth. However, in yet another snub to Western Australians, the Western Australian bid was ignored while five other cities around Australia were awarded anything up to $15 million for their bids. I am delighted that the member for Perth has asked me the question today because I can now inform the house that all is not lost. Kevin Rudd announced today that under a Rudd Labor government, Perth would be awarded $13.9 million so that we too could have a solar city. It shows that a Rudd Labor government will be serious about tackling climate change and the clean energy revolution. It also indicates that he will give Western Australia its fair share of revenue that is raised in the state and taken into the federal system. I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
I am delighted that the member for Perth has asked me the question today because I can now inform the house that all is not lost. Kevin Rudd announced today that under a Rudd Labor government, Perth would be awarded $13.9 million so that we too could have a solar city. It shows that a Rudd Labor government will be serious about tackling climate change and the clean energy revolution. It also indicates that he will give Western Australia its fair share of revenue that is raised in the state and taken into the federal system. I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I, like the member for Perth, was clearly very disappointed recently when the Howard government overlooked very strong Solar Cities bids from both Perth and Kalgoorlie. Both of those bids were short-listed. There was a short list of about 11 bids Australia-wide. Bidders were requested to submit a business case for commonwealth funding under the national Solar Cities program. The Perth Solar Cities bid was acknowledged by the other Solar Cities bidders, and politicians from all sides of politics in Western Australia, as being one of the strongest bids for funding under the federal government’s Solar Cities funding program. It was in fact one of the best value-for-money bids. The decision to ignore Western Australia’s bids means that all mainland states, except Western Australia, were awarded Solar Cities funding. For example, in South Australia, Adelaide would be a solar city; in Queensland, Townsville would be a solar city; in New South Wales, Blacktown would be a solar city; in the Northern Territory, Alice Springs would be a solar city; in Victoria, central Victoria would be a solar city. I am sure that all members can guess what is missing from this list. Only Western Australia was not awarded Solar Cities funding by the Howard government despite having a couple of the very best bids. Our submission made a compelling case for Perth to become a solar city. It demonstrated how Perth could lead the nation in the application of energy saving techniques in existing communities, including the use of smart power meters, photovoltaic cells, cost-reflective pricing, solar technologies and so forth. However, in yet another snub to Western Australians, the Western Australian bid was ignored while five other cities around Australia were awarded anything up to $15 million for their bids. I am delighted that the member for Perth has asked me the question today because I can now inform the house that all is not lost. Kevin Rudd announced today that under a Rudd Labor government, Perth would be awarded $13.9 million so that we too could have a solar city. It shows that a Rudd Labor government will be serious about tackling climate change and the clean energy revolution. It also indicates that he will give Western Australia its fair share of revenue that is raised in the state and taken into the federal system. I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
I, like the member for Perth, was clearly very disappointed recently when the Howard government overlooked very strong Solar Cities bids from both Perth and Kalgoorlie. Both of those bids were short-listed. There was a short list of about 11 bids Australia-wide. Bidders were requested to submit a business case for commonwealth funding under the national Solar Cities program. The Perth Solar Cities bid was acknowledged by the other Solar Cities bidders, and politicians from all sides of politics in Western Australia, as being one of the strongest bids for funding under the federal government’s Solar Cities funding program. It was in fact one of the best value-for-money bids. The decision to ignore Western Australia’s bids means that all mainland states, except Western Australia, were awarded Solar Cities funding. For example, in South Australia, Adelaide would be a solar city; in Queensland, Townsville would be a solar city; in New South Wales, Blacktown would be a solar city; in the Northern Territory, Alice Springs would be a solar city; in Victoria, central Victoria would be a solar city. I am sure that all members can guess what is missing from this list. Only Western Australia was not awarded Solar Cities funding by the Howard government despite having a couple of the very best bids. Our submission made a compelling case for Perth to become a solar city. It demonstrated how Perth could lead the nation in the application of energy saving techniques in existing communities, including the use of smart power meters, photovoltaic cells, cost-reflective pricing, solar technologies and so forth. However, in yet another snub to Western Australians, the Western Australian bid was ignored while five other cities around Australia were awarded anything up to $15 million for their bids. I am delighted that the member for Perth has asked me the question today because I can now inform the house that all is not lost. Kevin Rudd announced today that under a Rudd Labor government, Perth would be awarded $13.9 million so that we too could have a solar city. It shows that a Rudd Labor government will be serious about tackling climate change and the clean energy revolution. It also indicates that he will give Western Australia its fair share of revenue that is raised in the state and taken into the federal system. I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
I am delighted that the member for Perth has asked me the question today because I can now inform the house that all is not lost. Kevin Rudd announced today that under a Rudd Labor government, Perth would be awarded $13.9 million so that we too could have a solar city. It shows that a Rudd Labor government will be serious about tackling climate change and the clean energy revolution. It also indicates that he will give Western Australia its fair share of revenue that is raised in the state and taken into the federal system. I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
I think it is pretty easy to reflect on what has happened with the Howard government. It has had no commitment to Western Australia. This state, as we all know in this place, has been the engine room of the Australian economy, yet we have failed to get our fair share in a whole range of areas. Under the Howard government, we have got very little back. In health, the Howard government has been ripping money out of the public hospital system, underfunding aged care, and not providing enough general practitioners. Since 1996, the federal government has cut our share of public funding for hospitals from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. In education, the Howard government offered its own technical colleges to Western Australian students, but those colleges have failed dismally. The state system has over 100 000 students; the failed confrontational model put forward by John Howard has about 60 students. In transport, critical infrastructure for our state has been overlooked. All we hear from Canberra are a few pious words. We have had very little back in funding. The Howard government essentially penalises Western Australia for its success. We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
We have had a commitment from Kevin Rudd that he will reward Western Australia for its success. He has demonstrated a commitment to Western Australia. He has announced that he will put in place a Western Australian infrastructure fund, in which he will invest in infrastructure in the state over a 20-year period. Today’s announcement by Kevin Rudd that he will return $13.9 million to Western Australia for solar cities is a clear indication that he is prepared to give Western Australia its fair share. The Howard government has just viewed Western Australia as a cash cow and a quarry. I am pleased to say that it is certainly my view, and that of my colleagues, that we would see some fairness return to the dealings between Canberra and Western Australia under a Rudd Labor government.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.