❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister for Water about the high interest rate charged by the Water Corporation on late payments, compared to the RBA cash rate and WA Treasury borrowing rate. The Minister acknowledges the issue and states he has asked the Water Corporation to review its interest rates.
AnsweredQoN 65Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER CORPORATION —
LATE PAYMENTS — INTEREST RATE
65. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Water:
I refer to the Reserve
Bank of Australia cash rate of 0.75 per cent and the WA Treasury borrowing rate
of three per cent . Why is the minister's government charging
struggling Western Australians a massive 11.71 per cent for late payments of
their water bills?
LATE PAYMENTS — INTEREST RATE
65. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Water:
I refer to the Reserve
Bank of Australia cash rate of 0.75 per cent and the WA Treasury borrowing rate
of three per cent . Why is the minister's government charging
struggling Western Australians a massive 11.71 per cent for late payments of
their water bills?
AnswerView source ↗
I am so pleased to get a question from the member for
Cottesloe! It was in fact 27 November when I got my last question from the
member for Cottesloe—27 November 2018!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr D.J. KELLY : It is a question a long time in the
making.
The member for Cottesloe has asked me about the interest rate
that the Water Corporation charges on late payments. This is a question that I raised
when I was in opposition, because the significant rate of interest that the
Water Corporation charges for late payments is a practice that continued for
the eight years under the previous Barnett government.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : You've been there for three
years and you did nothing!
Mr D.J. KELLY : The member for Scarborough —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms S.E. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo! I call you to order
for the first time.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : Throw her out!
The SPEAKER : Who wants to go out? Is that you, member?
Mr D.J. KELLY : The policy that the member is complaining about
is a policy that the former government had in place for the eight and a half
years it was in government. The explanation that the Water Corporation had
given, and continues to give, is that it does not want to be the lender
of last resort. It does not want people to put the Water Corporation bill to
the back of the queue so they can pay off other bills, like their credit card,
that have a higher interest rate.
I
have to say, member, that it is timely that he asked this question, because I have
in fact asked the Water Corporation to look at the interest rates that
it charges on credit cards. It is something I raised with it in opposition, it
is something I raised with it in government, and it is something I have asked
it to review. I thank the member for the question. It is very timely, after a year
and a bit,
Cottesloe! It was in fact 27 November when I got my last question from the
member for Cottesloe—27 November 2018!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr D.J. KELLY : It is a question a long time in the
making.
The member for Cottesloe has asked me about the interest rate
that the Water Corporation charges on late payments. This is a question that I raised
when I was in opposition, because the significant rate of interest that the
Water Corporation charges for late payments is a practice that continued for
the eight years under the previous Barnett government.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : You've been there for three
years and you did nothing!
Mr D.J. KELLY : The member for Scarborough —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms S.E. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo! I call you to order
for the first time.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : Throw her out!
The SPEAKER : Who wants to go out? Is that you, member?
Mr D.J. KELLY : The policy that the member is complaining about
is a policy that the former government had in place for the eight and a half
years it was in government. The explanation that the Water Corporation had
given, and continues to give, is that it does not want to be the lender
of last resort. It does not want people to put the Water Corporation bill to
the back of the queue so they can pay off other bills, like their credit card,
that have a higher interest rate.
I
have to say, member, that it is timely that he asked this question, because I have
in fact asked the Water Corporation to look at the interest rates that
it charges on credit cards. It is something I raised with it in opposition, it
is something I raised with it in government, and it is something I have asked
it to review. I thank the member for the question. It is very timely, after a year
and a bit,
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