❓ Mr. Nalder questions the Minister for Energy about a proposed 15% price increase for Synergy, contrasting it with criticism of a 3% pay rise. The Minister defends the policy by referencing past statements made by the Leader of the Opposition regarding electricity prices.
AnsweredQoN 60Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SYNERGY — PRICE
INCREASES
60. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. I am
not sure whether the minister is aware, but his Premier complained about a three
per cent pay rise last year. The minister has talked about a 15 per cent pay
rise to Synergy. What exactly is the minister doing to drive costs out of this
government trading enterprise?
Dr M.D. Nahan : Adopting our
policies!
INCREASES
60. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. I am
not sure whether the minister is aware, but his Premier complained about a three
per cent pay rise last year. The minister has talked about a 15 per cent pay
rise to Synergy. What exactly is the minister doing to drive costs out of this
government trading enterprise?
Dr M.D. Nahan : Adopting our
policies!
AnswerView source ↗
Adopting the opposition's
policy? I will take that interjection, because I was interested to hear the
Leader of the Opposition talk about taxes in the context of power bills.
Despite what the Leader of the Opposition might want, he has not just fallen
out of the sky and landed there with no history around the place. He has not
just fallen out of the sky and landed there. I note that back in 2014—not
that long ago—the Leader of the Opposition made a point. I quote from
an article that appeared in the Armadale Examiner of 15 May 2014, member
for Armadale, wherever he is. The article states, in part —
Speaking about the budget on 6PR
radio last week Mr Nahan said Western Australia's electricity prices
were the lowest of any other state. ''You can't please
everybody, you are going to get certain people angry at you, this is not a giveaway
budget,'' he said.
''These increases for
electricity and water are not taxes, these are paying for the cost of
delivering these services.
That is right. Unfortunately, the
cost of delivering these services is still being subsidised by the broader
taxpayer. I think everybody understands that we would like to remove that
subsidy; certainly, everyone on this side understands that we would like to
remove that subsidy, but I can guarantee this: I will not be introducing the 25
per cent increase in power bills that the Liberal Party did on day one.
policy? I will take that interjection, because I was interested to hear the
Leader of the Opposition talk about taxes in the context of power bills.
Despite what the Leader of the Opposition might want, he has not just fallen
out of the sky and landed there with no history around the place. He has not
just fallen out of the sky and landed there. I note that back in 2014—not
that long ago—the Leader of the Opposition made a point. I quote from
an article that appeared in the Armadale Examiner of 15 May 2014, member
for Armadale, wherever he is. The article states, in part —
Speaking about the budget on 6PR
radio last week Mr Nahan said Western Australia's electricity prices
were the lowest of any other state. ''You can't please
everybody, you are going to get certain people angry at you, this is not a giveaway
budget,'' he said.
''These increases for
electricity and water are not taxes, these are paying for the cost of
delivering these services.
That is right. Unfortunately, the
cost of delivering these services is still being subsidised by the broader
taxpayer. I think everybody understands that we would like to remove that
subsidy; certainly, everyone on this side understands that we would like to
remove that subsidy, but I can guarantee this: I will not be introducing the 25
per cent increase in power bills that the Liberal Party did on day one.
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