Hon. Norman Moore questions the increase in the Water Corporation's dividend, arguing it hinders their ability to address WA's water supply needs. Hon. Nick Griffiths defends the decision by highlighting a past instance where the previous government took an even larger dividend.

AnsweredQoN 894Legislative Council
Asked
8 May 2003
Portfolio
Government Enterprises

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the minister to the budget decision to increase the Water Corporation’s dividend from 85 per cent to 92 per cent, thereby ripping an extra $20.1 million out of the Water Corporation. How does the minister justify this decision at a time when the Water Corporation should be using every cent it can obtain to enable it to meet the water supply needs of Western Australia? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS

AnswerView source ↗

The dividend from the Water Corporation is taken in the context of what is in the best interests of the community of Western Australia as a whole. I remind the member that he was a minister in a Government that set up the Water Corporation, and that in one year during the time of that Government - the financial year 1998-99 - the dividend that it obtained from the Water Corporation was 100 per cent. Hon Kim Chance: How much? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: One-hundred per cent. Hon Norman Moore: We have a crisis in water, and you are not dealing with it. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: If I may complete my answer over the unruly interjection of the Leader of the Opposition - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: The dividend from the Water Corporation is taken in the context of what is in the best interests of the community of Western Australia as a whole. I remind the member that he was a minister in a Government that set up the Water Corporation, and that in one year during the time of that Government - the financial year 1998-99 - the dividend that it obtained from the Water Corporation was 100 per cent. Hon Kim Chance: How much? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: One-hundred per cent. Hon Norman Moore: We have a crisis in water, and you are not dealing with it. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: If I may complete my answer over the unruly interjection of the Leader of the Opposition - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
The dividend from the Water Corporation is taken in the context of what is in the best interests of the community of Western Australia as a whole. I remind the member that he was a minister in a Government that set up the Water Corporation, and that in one year during the time of that Government - the financial year 1998-99 - the dividend that it obtained from the Water Corporation was 100 per cent. Hon Kim Chance: How much? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: One-hundred per cent. Hon Norman Moore: We have a crisis in water, and you are not dealing with it. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: If I may complete my answer over the unruly interjection of the Leader of the Opposition - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
Hon Kim Chance: How much? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: One-hundred per cent. Hon Norman Moore: We have a crisis in water, and you are not dealing with it. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: If I may complete my answer over the unruly interjection of the Leader of the Opposition - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: One-hundred per cent. Hon Norman Moore: We have a crisis in water, and you are not dealing with it. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: If I may complete my answer over the unruly interjection of the Leader of the Opposition - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
Hon Norman Moore: We have a crisis in water, and you are not dealing with it. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: If I may complete my answer over the unruly interjection of the Leader of the Opposition - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: If I may complete my answer over the unruly interjection of the Leader of the Opposition - Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is quite right. The parliamentary secretary and other members will come to order. Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: That was a very interesting financial transaction by the Court Government in 1998-99 - a 100 per cent dividend. I am advised that, in addition, there was a special dividend of in excess of $29 million.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more