❓ Mr. Grylls questions the Minister about redirecting $20 million taken from Western Power to fund network upgrades. Mr. Ripper avoids a direct answer, linking funding to the National Party's support for electricity reform.
AnsweredQoN 1212Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minister’s comments in this place on 21 August that the $20 million the Government took from Western Power in early 2002 in the form of an increased dividend was a share of its profits. If that amount was surplus to the requirements of the total capital works program at the time, will the minister now redirect that $20 million to the Energy Safety Directorate of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection to fund the essential network upgrades in the wheatbelt and Bremer Bay areas? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
As I explained to the House yesterday, we will spend $950 million upgrading the network over the next four years. We will also develop a 10-year plan for investment and upgrade of the network. The National Party would like additional money spent on the network. There is an easy way to achieve that: vote for the Government’s electricity reform. If the National Party is dinkum about upgrading the network, it will vote for electricity reform. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: As I explained to the House yesterday, we will spend $950 million upgrading the network over the next four years. We will also develop a 10-year plan for investment and upgrade of the network. The National Party would like additional money spent on the network. There is an easy way to achieve that: vote for the Government’s electricity reform. If the National Party is dinkum about upgrading the network, it will vote for electricity reform. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
As I explained to the House yesterday, we will spend $950 million upgrading the network over the next four years. We will also develop a 10-year plan for investment and upgrade of the network. The National Party would like additional money spent on the network. There is an easy way to achieve that: vote for the Government’s electricity reform. If the National Party is dinkum about upgrading the network, it will vote for electricity reform. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: As I explained to the House yesterday, we will spend $950 million upgrading the network over the next four years. We will also develop a 10-year plan for investment and upgrade of the network. The National Party would like additional money spent on the network. There is an easy way to achieve that: vote for the Government’s electricity reform. If the National Party is dinkum about upgrading the network, it will vote for electricity reform. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
As I explained to the House yesterday, we will spend $950 million upgrading the network over the next four years. We will also develop a 10-year plan for investment and upgrade of the network. The National Party would like additional money spent on the network. There is an easy way to achieve that: vote for the Government’s electricity reform. If the National Party is dinkum about upgrading the network, it will vote for electricity reform. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Is it not remarkable? The National Party comes into this House and moans about the problems with the present system, but it does not want to vote for a reform of that system. If there is electricity reform, there will be private sector investment in generation. That will release public sector capital, which could be used to upgrade the network. The Leader of the National Party should take an enlightened view of the self-interest of his constituents and support electricity reform. If he supports electricity reform, money will be available for the needs in the bush. As it is, we are spending $950 million, which I think is a large sum in anyone’s language.
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