❓ Premier Gallop affirms the government's opposition to the privatisation of Western Power, contrasting it with the Opposition Leader's past actions and statements regarding potential privatisation.
AnsweredQoN 18Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the claims by the Opposition Leader in yesterday’s The West Australian that he had never entertained the privatisation of Western Power. Can the Premier outline the Government’s policy in this regard? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
I am delighted to indicate that the Government is opposed to the privatisation of Western Power; so much so, that the electricity reform legislation - that which the Liberals and others have refused to support in Parliament - contains a provision to guard against privatisation by future Governments. Our position is clear. It always has been. Undoubtedly, in Western Australian politics, the Labor Party stands between Western Power and privatisation. The Labor Party stands against privatisation. I was surprised to hear the Leader of the Opposition say yesterday that he has consistently opposed the privatisation of Western Power. He was quoted in The West Australian to the same effect. He also said that the Macquarie Bank report on privatisation had nothing to do with him. Let me read page 3 of the report, which I will table. I think the Leader of the Opposition’s colleagues would want to read the report to gain an insight into their leader’s thinking on these matters. I refer to the man who said yesterday that he does not support the privatisation of Western Power, and would never support it. Page 3 of the report reads - On 4 March 1998, the Western Australian Minister for Energy announced - That is, the now Leader of the Opposition - that the State would consider the partial privatisation of Western Power. At this stage, the State’s preferred privatisation model is by way of a partial float of Western Power on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). It went on to say - It is understood that both the Minister and Western Power have considered a variety of alternative privatisation options. At present, - Members should listen to this - the preferred model is to retain Western Power as a vertically integrated utility. We now know why the Leader of the Opposition wants to prevent the disaggregation of Western Power. This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I am delighted to indicate that the Government is opposed to the privatisation of Western Power; so much so, that the electricity reform legislation - that which the Liberals and others have refused to support in Parliament - contains a provision to guard against privatisation by future Governments. Our position is clear. It always has been. Undoubtedly, in Western Australian politics, the Labor Party stands between Western Power and privatisation. The Labor Party stands against privatisation. I was surprised to hear the Leader of the Opposition say yesterday that he has consistently opposed the privatisation of Western Power. He was quoted in The West Australian to the same effect. He also said that the Macquarie Bank report on privatisation had nothing to do with him. Let me read page 3 of the report, which I will table. I think the Leader of the Opposition’s colleagues would want to read the report to gain an insight into their leader’s thinking on these matters. I refer to the man who said yesterday that he does not support the privatisation of Western Power, and would never support it. Page 3 of the report reads - On 4 March 1998, the Western Australian Minister for Energy announced - That is, the now Leader of the Opposition - that the State would consider the partial privatisation of Western Power. At this stage, the State’s preferred privatisation model is by way of a partial float of Western Power on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). It went on to say - It is understood that both the Minister and Western Power have considered a variety of alternative privatisation options. At present, - Members should listen to this - the preferred model is to retain Western Power as a vertically integrated utility. We now know why the Leader of the Opposition wants to prevent the disaggregation of Western Power. This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
I am delighted to indicate that the Government is opposed to the privatisation of Western Power; so much so, that the electricity reform legislation - that which the Liberals and others have refused to support in Parliament - contains a provision to guard against privatisation by future Governments. Our position is clear. It always has been. Undoubtedly, in Western Australian politics, the Labor Party stands between Western Power and privatisation. The Labor Party stands against privatisation. I was surprised to hear the Leader of the Opposition say yesterday that he has consistently opposed the privatisation of Western Power. He was quoted in The West Australian to the same effect. He also said that the Macquarie Bank report on privatisation had nothing to do with him. Let me read page 3 of the report, which I will table. I think the Leader of the Opposition’s colleagues would want to read the report to gain an insight into their leader’s thinking on these matters. I refer to the man who said yesterday that he does not support the privatisation of Western Power, and would never support it. Page 3 of the report reads - On 4 March 1998, the Western Australian Minister for Energy announced - That is, the now Leader of the Opposition - that the State would consider the partial privatisation of Western Power. At this stage, the State’s preferred privatisation model is by way of a partial float of Western Power on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). It went on to say - It is understood that both the Minister and Western Power have considered a variety of alternative privatisation options. At present, - Members should listen to this - the preferred model is to retain Western Power as a vertically integrated utility. We now know why the Leader of the Opposition wants to prevent the disaggregation of Western Power. This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
I was surprised to hear the Leader of the Opposition say yesterday that he has consistently opposed the privatisation of Western Power. He was quoted in The West Australian to the same effect. He also said that the Macquarie Bank report on privatisation had nothing to do with him. Let me read page 3 of the report, which I will table. I think the Leader of the Opposition’s colleagues would want to read the report to gain an insight into their leader’s thinking on these matters. I refer to the man who said yesterday that he does not support the privatisation of Western Power, and would never support it. Page 3 of the report reads - On 4 March 1998, the Western Australian Minister for Energy announced - That is, the now Leader of the Opposition - that the State would consider the partial privatisation of Western Power. At this stage, the State’s preferred privatisation model is by way of a partial float of Western Power on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). It went on to say - It is understood that both the Minister and Western Power have considered a variety of alternative privatisation options. At present, - Members should listen to this - the preferred model is to retain Western Power as a vertically integrated utility. We now know why the Leader of the Opposition wants to prevent the disaggregation of Western Power. This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
[See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I am delighted to indicate that the Government is opposed to the privatisation of Western Power; so much so, that the electricity reform legislation - that which the Liberals and others have refused to support in Parliament - contains a provision to guard against privatisation by future Governments. Our position is clear. It always has been. Undoubtedly, in Western Australian politics, the Labor Party stands between Western Power and privatisation. The Labor Party stands against privatisation. I was surprised to hear the Leader of the Opposition say yesterday that he has consistently opposed the privatisation of Western Power. He was quoted in The West Australian to the same effect. He also said that the Macquarie Bank report on privatisation had nothing to do with him. Let me read page 3 of the report, which I will table. I think the Leader of the Opposition’s colleagues would want to read the report to gain an insight into their leader’s thinking on these matters. I refer to the man who said yesterday that he does not support the privatisation of Western Power, and would never support it. Page 3 of the report reads - On 4 March 1998, the Western Australian Minister for Energy announced - That is, the now Leader of the Opposition - that the State would consider the partial privatisation of Western Power. At this stage, the State’s preferred privatisation model is by way of a partial float of Western Power on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). It went on to say - It is understood that both the Minister and Western Power have considered a variety of alternative privatisation options. At present, - Members should listen to this - the preferred model is to retain Western Power as a vertically integrated utility. We now know why the Leader of the Opposition wants to prevent the disaggregation of Western Power. This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
I am delighted to indicate that the Government is opposed to the privatisation of Western Power; so much so, that the electricity reform legislation - that which the Liberals and others have refused to support in Parliament - contains a provision to guard against privatisation by future Governments. Our position is clear. It always has been. Undoubtedly, in Western Australian politics, the Labor Party stands between Western Power and privatisation. The Labor Party stands against privatisation. I was surprised to hear the Leader of the Opposition say yesterday that he has consistently opposed the privatisation of Western Power. He was quoted in The West Australian to the same effect. He also said that the Macquarie Bank report on privatisation had nothing to do with him. Let me read page 3 of the report, which I will table. I think the Leader of the Opposition’s colleagues would want to read the report to gain an insight into their leader’s thinking on these matters. I refer to the man who said yesterday that he does not support the privatisation of Western Power, and would never support it. Page 3 of the report reads - On 4 March 1998, the Western Australian Minister for Energy announced - That is, the now Leader of the Opposition - that the State would consider the partial privatisation of Western Power. At this stage, the State’s preferred privatisation model is by way of a partial float of Western Power on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). It went on to say - It is understood that both the Minister and Western Power have considered a variety of alternative privatisation options. At present, - Members should listen to this - the preferred model is to retain Western Power as a vertically integrated utility. We now know why the Leader of the Opposition wants to prevent the disaggregation of Western Power. This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
I was surprised to hear the Leader of the Opposition say yesterday that he has consistently opposed the privatisation of Western Power. He was quoted in The West Australian to the same effect. He also said that the Macquarie Bank report on privatisation had nothing to do with him. Let me read page 3 of the report, which I will table. I think the Leader of the Opposition’s colleagues would want to read the report to gain an insight into their leader’s thinking on these matters. I refer to the man who said yesterday that he does not support the privatisation of Western Power, and would never support it. Page 3 of the report reads - On 4 March 1998, the Western Australian Minister for Energy announced - That is, the now Leader of the Opposition - that the State would consider the partial privatisation of Western Power. At this stage, the State’s preferred privatisation model is by way of a partial float of Western Power on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). It went on to say - It is understood that both the Minister and Western Power have considered a variety of alternative privatisation options. At present, - Members should listen to this - the preferred model is to retain Western Power as a vertically integrated utility. We now know why the Leader of the Opposition wants to prevent the disaggregation of Western Power. This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
This was such a matter for debate at the time that a heading on the front page of The West Australian was “WA power supply for sale: Barnett”. That article that quoted the then Minister for Energy appeared on the front page of the newspaper, and his name also appeared in the Macquarie Bank Ltd report on Western Power, yet he told the people of Western Australia yesterday that he has always opposed privatisation. Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Within a month of the Leader of the Opposition being reported in The West Australian in 1998 as saying that he supported privatisation, the Macquarie Bank produced a report recommending the best way to sell Western Power and quoted the minister’s opinion within that report. It stretches the bounds of credibility to say that a government trading enterprise would develop a plan for privatisation, “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”, without the Government of the day knowing about it. It not only knew about it, but also its comments on it were reported in The West Australian . What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge of that report? Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Mr C.J. Barnett: I would imagine - Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I believe the member for Kalgoorlie has the terminology to describe that response, does he not? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer or not? You don’t want an answer, do you? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Answer it. What was the Leader of the Opposition’s knowledge? Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Mr C.J. Barnett: Do you want an answer? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am listening. Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Mr C.J. Barnett: Okay. The report was commissioned by Western Power. I do not have my records as a minister, but I imagine Western Power would have informed me that it had commissioned that report. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Leader of the Opposition knew about that report. What did it deal with? This is the man who has never supported the privatisation of Western Power. The agency that he told us yesterday he had direct control over has a report entitled “Western Power Corporation: The Path to Privatisation”. This is a matter of credibility and policy. This Government is opposed to privatisation. Its position is clear. This Leader of the Opposition wants to privatise Western Power. We know it. He is on the record as saying that, and he is now trying to cover it up. I table the report. [See paper No 2148.]
[See paper No 2148.]
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