❓ Albany—Gas conversion 40. Mr Scott Leary to the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation: I refer to the Cook Labor government's decision to provide a state-funded transition support package for approx
AnsweredQoN 40Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Albany—Gas conversion
40. Mr Scott Leary to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's decision to provide a state-funded transition support
package for approximately 400 gas customers in Esperance when their reticulated
gas system was withdrawn. Given that Albany's gas distribution system serves
around 8,000 residential and business connections, many of whom are now facing
the decommissioning of their gas supply, will the minister guarantee that
Albany's 8,000 customers will receive at least the same level of support per
connection as was provided to the 400 customers in Esperance?
40. Mr Scott Leary to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's decision to provide a state-funded transition support
package for approximately 400 gas customers in Esperance when their reticulated
gas system was withdrawn. Given that Albany's gas distribution system serves
around 8,000 residential and business connections, many of whom are now facing
the decommissioning of their gas supply, will the minister guarantee that
Albany's 8,000 customers will receive at least the same level of support per
connection as was provided to the 400 customers in Esperance?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for Albany for his question and his constructive engagement with me and my
office on this issue. We met earlier this week to talk through some of the
challenges presented by ATCO's decision. As the member rightly pointed out,
this was entirely the decision of ATCO and it was outside of the government's
control. Essentially, ATCO purchased this network about 12 to 13 years ago
after it was privatised by the former Liberal–National government. It
purchased the network with full awareness of its condition and it has now made
a commercial decision to exit, which is incredibly disappointing for the
community and the government.
We have been working
with ATCO for the last few months to interrogate the decision, stress test it
and urge ATCO to change it. It has been unwilling to move on that decision. We
have been in the difficult situation in which it has now announced that
decision. We are working with the community and local government and we have
established a working group around what we need to
support the Albany community to transition to bottled gas and electrification
and which other providers may be available to do that. I think it is important
to note that there is nothing that anyone in Albany needs to do right now. This
is not urgent. We have a minimum three-year window. I have asked ATCO for a
three-year to five-year window to start that transition to allow the community
of Albany to adjust and make the infrastructure changes that they require.
The member mentioned
the circumstances in Esperance. We learned a lot of lessons in the rollout of
that program of conversion. This is obviously significantly larger than the
Esperance community. There were challenges around that conversion. This is
going to be a very detailed and lengthy program of work over a number of years
with the residents—
Mr Peter Rundle interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Roe, please do not interject.
The minister is giving a very informative response to the member for Albany—your
side. Carry on, minister.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: This is going to be a very
detailed and lengthy program of works. Not every household is going to need the
same solutions. We are still working through exactly what that looks like
because the scale of it is quite significant. The Department of Energy and
Economic Diversification has been down to Albany for community consultation and
initial engagement with ATCO. It is establishing a working group that will
include local businesses, residents, representatives and the local government
to ensure that we are getting that program of work right and that the level of
support from government and the private sector is appropriate.
for Albany for his question and his constructive engagement with me and my
office on this issue. We met earlier this week to talk through some of the
challenges presented by ATCO's decision. As the member rightly pointed out,
this was entirely the decision of ATCO and it was outside of the government's
control. Essentially, ATCO purchased this network about 12 to 13 years ago
after it was privatised by the former Liberal–National government. It
purchased the network with full awareness of its condition and it has now made
a commercial decision to exit, which is incredibly disappointing for the
community and the government.
We have been working
with ATCO for the last few months to interrogate the decision, stress test it
and urge ATCO to change it. It has been unwilling to move on that decision. We
have been in the difficult situation in which it has now announced that
decision. We are working with the community and local government and we have
established a working group around what we need to
support the Albany community to transition to bottled gas and electrification
and which other providers may be available to do that. I think it is important
to note that there is nothing that anyone in Albany needs to do right now. This
is not urgent. We have a minimum three-year window. I have asked ATCO for a
three-year to five-year window to start that transition to allow the community
of Albany to adjust and make the infrastructure changes that they require.
The member mentioned
the circumstances in Esperance. We learned a lot of lessons in the rollout of
that program of conversion. This is obviously significantly larger than the
Esperance community. There were challenges around that conversion. This is
going to be a very detailed and lengthy program of work over a number of years
with the residents—
Mr Peter Rundle interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Roe, please do not interject.
The minister is giving a very informative response to the member for Albany—your
side. Carry on, minister.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: This is going to be a very
detailed and lengthy program of works. Not every household is going to need the
same solutions. We are still working through exactly what that looks like
because the scale of it is quite significant. The Department of Energy and
Economic Diversification has been down to Albany for community consultation and
initial engagement with ATCO. It is establishing a working group that will
include local businesses, residents, representatives and the local government
to ensure that we are getting that program of work right and that the level of
support from government and the private sector is appropriate.
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