❓ Mr. Ripper questions Premier Barnett about the State Budget's impact on utility prices, specifically regarding a $1 billion transfer from electricity utilities to the Treasury. Premier Barnett denies this, highlighting ongoing government subsidies and criticising the previous government's energy policies.
AnsweredQoN 309Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET 2011–12 — UTILITY PRICES
I have a supplementary question. I refer to the Premier’s comment that at least when people pay their electricity bill in Western Australia, they pay for electricity. Is it not the case that we are paying for his government’s dividend and his income tax payments? Is it not case that people are paying for $1 billion to go from the electricity utilities into the Premier’s Treasury over the next four years? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I have a supplementary question. I refer to the Premier’s comment that at least when people pay their electricity bill in Western Australia, they pay for electricity. Is it not the case that we are paying for his government’s dividend and his income tax payments? Is it not case that people are paying for $1 billion to go from the electricity utilities into the Premier’s Treasury over the next four years? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
The electricity utilities will continue for the foreseeable future to receive very substantial government or taxpayer funds. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion from them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: The electricity utilities will continue for the foreseeable future to receive very substantial government or taxpayer funds. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion from them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
The electricity utilities will continue for the foreseeable future to receive very substantial government or taxpayer funds. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion from them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion from them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: The electricity utilities will continue for the foreseeable future to receive very substantial government or taxpayer funds. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion from them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
The electricity utilities will continue for the foreseeable future to receive very substantial government or taxpayer funds. Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion from them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion from them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No! The Leader of the Opposition cannot get way with that. As someone who was a Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows that utilities have large capital requirements for further expenditure. The Leader of the Opposition keeps on asking why is the government not building this powerline, that power station and whatever else. We have to manage responsibly, and while we are still subsidising electricity—a legacy of the Leader of the Opposition’s years—I remind members that — Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You are getting $1 billion! Why don’t you acknowledge that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I remind members that, prior to the Leader of the Opposition becoming energy minister, we had one state-owned utility that made substantial profits every year and delivered reliable electricity at affordable prices. His legacy is an absolute catastrophe. Yes, they will pay dividends and as they make capital requirements and capital expenditure, that will be supported by budget decisions and therefore add to state debt. The government will keep a strong financial control over those utilities, but we will continue to subsidise them and try to minimise the impact on consumers.
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