Mr. Graham questions the Treasurer about a committee formed to address compensation claims from Pilbara councils, suggesting it's a "con job." The Treasurer defends the government's position, stating no compensation is payable until councils demonstrate a net overall loss.

AnsweredQoN 618Legislative Assembly
Asked
19 October 2004
Portfolio
Treasurer

QuestionView source ↗

I ask a supplementary question. I thank the Treasurer for his honesty. It seems that the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development was right. Given that answer, will the Treasurer now admit that the committee his Government announced on 23 September to address this issue is nothing but a con job? Mr E.S. RIPPER

AnswerView source ↗

I am basing my answer on Treasury’s assessment of the councils’ claims for compensation. Until the councils can demonstrate a net overall loss - they have not been able to do so because they have not considered both sides of the argument - no compensation is payable. However, the matter can still be investigated because - Mr L. Graham: Are you going to write to them and tell them that? They have been waiting since June. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Their correspondence will be replied to. The situation is this: it is always possible for further work to be done on this issue, and it certainly is a matter of inquiry within the state development and local government portfolios. Nothing presented to Treasury shows that there is a net loss to Pilbara councils. There might be a loss if they are looking only at unimproved value, but nothing presented to Treasury demonstrates that there is an overall loss. A lot of money is available to meet Pilbara community needs. The member for Pilbara knows that. There is the Pilbara partnership and the Port Hedland enhancement scheme. Let us get on and spend some of that money together to meet those community needs.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I am basing my answer on Treasury’s assessment of the councils’ claims for compensation. Until the councils can demonstrate a net overall loss - they have not been able to do so because they have not considered both sides of the argument - no compensation is payable. However, the matter can still be investigated because - Mr L. Graham: Are you going to write to them and tell them that? They have been waiting since June. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Their correspondence will be replied to. The situation is this: it is always possible for further work to be done on this issue, and it certainly is a matter of inquiry within the state development and local government portfolios. Nothing presented to Treasury shows that there is a net loss to Pilbara councils. There might be a loss if they are looking only at unimproved value, but nothing presented to Treasury demonstrates that there is an overall loss. A lot of money is available to meet Pilbara community needs. The member for Pilbara knows that. There is the Pilbara partnership and the Port Hedland enhancement scheme. Let us get on and spend some of that money together to meet those community needs.
I am basing my answer on Treasury’s assessment of the councils’ claims for compensation. Until the councils can demonstrate a net overall loss - they have not been able to do so because they have not considered both sides of the argument - no compensation is payable. However, the matter can still be investigated because - Mr L. Graham: Are you going to write to them and tell them that? They have been waiting since June. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Their correspondence will be replied to. The situation is this: it is always possible for further work to be done on this issue, and it certainly is a matter of inquiry within the state development and local government portfolios. Nothing presented to Treasury shows that there is a net loss to Pilbara councils. There might be a loss if they are looking only at unimproved value, but nothing presented to Treasury demonstrates that there is an overall loss. A lot of money is available to meet Pilbara community needs. The member for Pilbara knows that. There is the Pilbara partnership and the Port Hedland enhancement scheme. Let us get on and spend some of that money together to meet those community needs.
Mr L. Graham: Are you going to write to them and tell them that? They have been waiting since June. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Their correspondence will be replied to. The situation is this: it is always possible for further work to be done on this issue, and it certainly is a matter of inquiry within the state development and local government portfolios. Nothing presented to Treasury shows that there is a net loss to Pilbara councils. There might be a loss if they are looking only at unimproved value, but nothing presented to Treasury demonstrates that there is an overall loss. A lot of money is available to meet Pilbara community needs. The member for Pilbara knows that. There is the Pilbara partnership and the Port Hedland enhancement scheme. Let us get on and spend some of that money together to meet those community needs.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Their correspondence will be replied to. The situation is this: it is always possible for further work to be done on this issue, and it certainly is a matter of inquiry within the state development and local government portfolios. Nothing presented to Treasury shows that there is a net loss to Pilbara councils. There might be a loss if they are looking only at unimproved value, but nothing presented to Treasury demonstrates that there is an overall loss. A lot of money is available to meet Pilbara community needs. The member for Pilbara knows that. There is the Pilbara partnership and the Port Hedland enhancement scheme. Let us get on and spend some of that money together to meet those community needs.

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