❓ Opposition Leader questions the Treasurer about conflicting statements regarding the sale of Western Power, a state-owned utility. The Treasurer dismisses the concerns and affirms the government's intention to proceed with the sale at their own pace.
AnsweredQoN 736Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ASSET SALES — WESTERN POWER
736. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's
further confirmation in Parliament yesterday that the government still intends
to sell Western Power, and the Premier's comments only two hours later
casting doubt on his position, saying, and I quote, ''We have yet to
make that decision''.
(1) Why is there such a division
between the Premier and the Treasurer on this?
(2) Will the government be selling
Western Power; and, if so, how much of it will be sold?
736. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's
further confirmation in Parliament yesterday that the government still intends
to sell Western Power, and the Premier's comments only two hours later
casting doubt on his position, saying, and I quote, ''We have yet to
make that decision''.
(1) Why is there such a division
between the Premier and the Treasurer on this?
(2) Will the government be selling
Western Power; and, if so, how much of it will be sold?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
only division here is the division between the Leader of the Opposition's
ears and his mouth. At budget time, we indicated quite clearly that we had
proposed to pursue the sale of Western Power. I have said over and again that
that is what we are doing, and that is what the Premier said.
Mr
R.H. Cook : The Premier has undermined you.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : No. We are one on this; you will see. That is what we are going
to do. We will announce, at a time of our choosing, the approach that we will
take to our asset sales—not a time of the opposition's
choosing, but of ours. As Paul Keating once said, ''We're going
to do you slowly.'' We are going to allow the opposition to go out and
make all these ridiculous and expensive announcements, and then we are going to
come back!
only division here is the division between the Leader of the Opposition's
ears and his mouth. At budget time, we indicated quite clearly that we had
proposed to pursue the sale of Western Power. I have said over and again that
that is what we are doing, and that is what the Premier said.
Mr
R.H. Cook : The Premier has undermined you.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : No. We are one on this; you will see. That is what we are going
to do. We will announce, at a time of our choosing, the approach that we will
take to our asset sales—not a time of the opposition's
choosing, but of ours. As Paul Keating once said, ''We're going
to do you slowly.'' We are going to allow the opposition to go out and
make all these ridiculous and expensive announcements, and then we are going to
come back!
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