❓ Mr Trenorden questions the significant increase in power connection costs for a property in Kulin, asking how this aligns with the Labor government's regional development policy. Mr Ripper deflects, blaming previous government policies and promising future guidelines.
AnsweredQoN 931Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Labor election policy entitled “A fair go for regional WA” in which it states that Labor’s commitment is to provide affordable and reasonable access to public services and infrastructure that is comparable with the metropolitan area and encourages economic growth and social viability. (1) Please explain why the price of power connection on the Bowey property in Kulin under the coalition Government was $4 241 and under this Government the same connection is $8 356 - virtually a 100 per cent increase in a three-year period? I have a copy of the correspondence that was sent to the minister. (2) Please explain how this doubling of costs fits with the Labor Government’s regional policy of promoting economic growth and social viability. Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
(1) Please explain why the price of power connection on the Bowey property in Kulin under the coalition Government was $4 241 and under this Government the same connection is $8 356 - virtually a 100 per cent increase in a three-year period? I have a copy of the correspondence that was sent to the minister. (2) Please explain how this doubling of costs fits with the Labor Government’s regional policy of promoting economic growth and social viability. Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
(2) Please explain how this doubling of costs fits with the Labor Government’s regional policy of promoting economic growth and social viability. Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
(1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
(1) Please explain why the price of power connection on the Bowey property in Kulin under the coalition Government was $4 241 and under this Government the same connection is $8 356 - virtually a 100 per cent increase in a three-year period? I have a copy of the correspondence that was sent to the minister. (2) Please explain how this doubling of costs fits with the Labor Government’s regional policy of promoting economic growth and social viability. Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
(2) Please explain how this doubling of costs fits with the Labor Government’s regional policy of promoting economic growth and social viability. Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
(1)-(2) I will not be in a position to reply to the detail of the question on a particular Kulin property and its electrical connection. If the Leader of the National Party genuinely wanted an answer to that question at question time, he would have given notice of the question and I would have had the information available for him. There has been no change in the connection policies of Western Power since this Government came to power. There may, however, have been a change in the circumstances relating to that property. This Government inherited a set of laws and policies on electrical connections that has created an issue. A law introduced by the Leader of the National Party’s coalition colleague, the current Leader of the Opposition, states that Western Power must behave in a commercial way. That law, if interpreted as one would expect it to be interpreted, means that Western Power is legally prevented from extending its network in any way that would cause it to make a continuing loss. That law left to us by the Leader of the Opposition needs attention, and it will receive attention in the electricity reform process. We have a problem with the extension network on the fringes of the south west interconnected system. Currently, the development of a set of guidelines is in process as no guidelines were left by the coalition on the matter. This Government will develop a proper and fair set of guidelines governing when and under what circumstances and conditions the electricity network will be extended. Try as members opposite might to beat up a campaign about regional services, this Government has a very strong commitment to the regions that is backed up by budget allocations and government decisions made every day.
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