❓ The question asks the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to support National Party amendments to the Electricity Corporations Bill 2005, focusing on regional electricity expenditure and off-peak power. The Minister deflects, stating the question should be directed to the Minister for Energy, and outlines government initiatives to improve rural power services.
AnsweredQoN 520Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
During the Telstra debate on 18 August 2005, the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development stated that, as the minister responsible for regional development, it is his responsibility to make sure that areas outside the metropolitan area are looked after. (1) Will the minister now support the National Party’s amendments to the Electricity Corporations Bill 2005 to - this is what the Premier called ridiculous - (a) ensure that a minimum of 50 per cent of all capital operating expenditure via the networks corporation is spent in regional Western Australia; and (b) to ensure that off-peak power is made available to customers outside the south west interconnected system? (2) Will he support the National Party’s ongoing effort to secure a legislated guarantee that the $12 million rural power improvement program will continue after this term of government? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question, even though it should have been asked of the Minister for Energy. This government is putting a record amount into the networks. It is splitting the networks so that that can be done. The National Party has been complaining about the level of Western Power service in the bush and yet it wants to keep the very system it is complaining about. This government will change the system to improve the network and distribution in rural areas. The Leader of the National Party wants to ensure that at least 50 per cent of all capital is spent in regional Western Australia. We consistently spend more than 50 per cent of capital in regional Western Australia, and we will continue to do so. We will upgrade the networks. We will do what the coalition has never done - namely, we will look after the bush. We will also look after the north west of the state. We will establish a rural power supply that the member wants to ignore. We will establish a separate power source, which will look after the northern and southern parts of the state. A dedicated authority will look after power in the member for Roe’s area near Esperance. I know that that area has had terrible services in the past, as has the Pilbara and the Kimberley. A dedicated authority will look after those areas. We will upgrade the networks. For the first time, Western Australia will have a competitive service. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
(1) Will the minister now support the National Party’s amendments to the Electricity Corporations Bill 2005 to - this is what the Premier called ridiculous - (a) ensure that a minimum of 50 per cent of all capital operating expenditure via the networks corporation is spent in regional Western Australia; and (b) to ensure that off-peak power is made available to customers outside the south west interconnected system? (2) Will he support the National Party’s ongoing effort to secure a legislated guarantee that the $12 million rural power improvement program will continue after this term of government? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question, even though it should have been asked of the Minister for Energy. This government is putting a record amount into the networks. It is splitting the networks so that that can be done. The National Party has been complaining about the level of Western Power service in the bush and yet it wants to keep the very system it is complaining about. This government will change the system to improve the network and distribution in rural areas. The Leader of the National Party wants to ensure that at least 50 per cent of all capital is spent in regional Western Australia. We consistently spend more than 50 per cent of capital in regional Western Australia, and we will continue to do so. We will upgrade the networks. We will do what the coalition has never done - namely, we will look after the bush. We will also look after the north west of the state. We will establish a rural power supply that the member wants to ignore. We will establish a separate power source, which will look after the northern and southern parts of the state. A dedicated authority will look after power in the member for Roe’s area near Esperance. I know that that area has had terrible services in the past, as has the Pilbara and the Kimberley. A dedicated authority will look after those areas. We will upgrade the networks. For the first time, Western Australia will have a competitive service. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
(b) to ensure that off-peak power is made available to customers outside the south west interconnected system?
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question, even though it should have been asked of the Minister for Energy. This government is putting a record amount into the networks. It is splitting the networks so that that can be done. The National Party has been complaining about the level of Western Power service in the bush and yet it wants to keep the very system it is complaining about. This government will change the system to improve the network and distribution in rural areas. The Leader of the National Party wants to ensure that at least 50 per cent of all capital is spent in regional Western Australia. We consistently spend more than 50 per cent of capital in regional Western Australia, and we will continue to do so. We will upgrade the networks. We will do what the coalition has never done - namely, we will look after the bush. We will also look after the north west of the state. We will establish a rural power supply that the member wants to ignore. We will establish a separate power source, which will look after the northern and southern parts of the state. A dedicated authority will look after power in the member for Roe’s area near Esperance. I know that that area has had terrible services in the past, as has the Pilbara and the Kimberley. A dedicated authority will look after those areas. We will upgrade the networks. For the first time, Western Australia will have a competitive service. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question, even though it should have been asked of the Minister for Energy. This government is putting a record amount into the networks. It is splitting the networks so that that can be done. The National Party has been complaining about the level of Western Power service in the bush and yet it wants to keep the very system it is complaining about. This government will change the system to improve the network and distribution in rural areas. The Leader of the National Party wants to ensure that at least 50 per cent of all capital is spent in regional Western Australia. We consistently spend more than 50 per cent of capital in regional Western Australia, and we will continue to do so. We will upgrade the networks. We will do what the coalition has never done - namely, we will look after the bush. We will also look after the north west of the state. We will establish a rural power supply that the member wants to ignore. We will establish a separate power source, which will look after the northern and southern parts of the state. A dedicated authority will look after power in the member for Roe’s area near Esperance. I know that that area has had terrible services in the past, as has the Pilbara and the Kimberley. A dedicated authority will look after those areas. We will upgrade the networks. For the first time, Western Australia will have a competitive service. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
(1) Will the minister now support the National Party’s amendments to the Electricity Corporations Bill 2005 to - this is what the Premier called ridiculous - (a) ensure that a minimum of 50 per cent of all capital operating expenditure via the networks corporation is spent in regional Western Australia; and (b) to ensure that off-peak power is made available to customers outside the south west interconnected system? (2) Will he support the National Party’s ongoing effort to secure a legislated guarantee that the $12 million rural power improvement program will continue after this term of government? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question, even though it should have been asked of the Minister for Energy. This government is putting a record amount into the networks. It is splitting the networks so that that can be done. The National Party has been complaining about the level of Western Power service in the bush and yet it wants to keep the very system it is complaining about. This government will change the system to improve the network and distribution in rural areas. The Leader of the National Party wants to ensure that at least 50 per cent of all capital is spent in regional Western Australia. We consistently spend more than 50 per cent of capital in regional Western Australia, and we will continue to do so. We will upgrade the networks. We will do what the coalition has never done - namely, we will look after the bush. We will also look after the north west of the state. We will establish a rural power supply that the member wants to ignore. We will establish a separate power source, which will look after the northern and southern parts of the state. A dedicated authority will look after power in the member for Roe’s area near Esperance. I know that that area has had terrible services in the past, as has the Pilbara and the Kimberley. A dedicated authority will look after those areas. We will upgrade the networks. For the first time, Western Australia will have a competitive service. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
(b) to ensure that off-peak power is made available to customers outside the south west interconnected system?
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question, even though it should have been asked of the Minister for Energy. This government is putting a record amount into the networks. It is splitting the networks so that that can be done. The National Party has been complaining about the level of Western Power service in the bush and yet it wants to keep the very system it is complaining about. This government will change the system to improve the network and distribution in rural areas. The Leader of the National Party wants to ensure that at least 50 per cent of all capital is spent in regional Western Australia. We consistently spend more than 50 per cent of capital in regional Western Australia, and we will continue to do so. We will upgrade the networks. We will do what the coalition has never done - namely, we will look after the bush. We will also look after the north west of the state. We will establish a rural power supply that the member wants to ignore. We will establish a separate power source, which will look after the northern and southern parts of the state. A dedicated authority will look after power in the member for Roe’s area near Esperance. I know that that area has had terrible services in the past, as has the Pilbara and the Kimberley. A dedicated authority will look after those areas. We will upgrade the networks. For the first time, Western Australia will have a competitive service. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question, even though it should have been asked of the Minister for Energy. This government is putting a record amount into the networks. It is splitting the networks so that that can be done. The National Party has been complaining about the level of Western Power service in the bush and yet it wants to keep the very system it is complaining about. This government will change the system to improve the network and distribution in rural areas. The Leader of the National Party wants to ensure that at least 50 per cent of all capital is spent in regional Western Australia. We consistently spend more than 50 per cent of capital in regional Western Australia, and we will continue to do so. We will upgrade the networks. We will do what the coalition has never done - namely, we will look after the bush. We will also look after the north west of the state. We will establish a rural power supply that the member wants to ignore. We will establish a separate power source, which will look after the northern and southern parts of the state. A dedicated authority will look after power in the member for Roe’s area near Esperance. I know that that area has had terrible services in the past, as has the Pilbara and the Kimberley. A dedicated authority will look after those areas. We will upgrade the networks. For the first time, Western Australia will have a competitive service. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I call the members for Darling Range and Leschenault to order.
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