❓ Mr Day (Liberal) questions the Energy Minister about the impact of the government's energy policy on electricity prices in Merredin. The Minister avoids answering directly, instead attacking the Liberal party's record on regional issues and quoting the National Party leader's criticism of the Liberal leader.
AnsweredQoN 546Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT’S ENERGY POLICY, IMPACT ON MERREDIN
I refer to a media release issued by the minister on 7 November 2001 in which he implies that voters in the Merredin electorate would benefit from Labor’s decision on electricity prices in regional areas. (1) Will the minister confirm that the Merredin electorate is covered by the south west interconnected grid system? (2) Will the minister confirm that uniform tariffs in Merredin have never been altered and that the Government’s decision will have no impact on electricity prices in the Merredin electorate? Mr RIPPER
I refer to a media release issued by the minister on 7 November 2001 in which he implies that voters in the Merredin electorate would benefit from Labor’s decision on electricity prices in regional areas. (1) Will the minister confirm that the Merredin electorate is covered by the south west interconnected grid system? (2) Will the minister confirm that uniform tariffs in Merredin have never been altered and that the Government’s decision will have no impact on electricity prices in the Merredin electorate? Mr RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
(1) Will the minister confirm that the Merredin electorate is covered by the south west interconnected grid system? (2) Will the minister confirm that uniform tariffs in Merredin have never been altered and that the Government’s decision will have no impact on electricity prices in the Merredin electorate? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
(2) Will the minister confirm that uniform tariffs in Merredin have never been altered and that the Government’s decision will have no impact on electricity prices in the Merredin electorate? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
(1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
(1) Will the minister confirm that the Merredin electorate is covered by the south west interconnected grid system? (2) Will the minister confirm that uniform tariffs in Merredin have never been altered and that the Government’s decision will have no impact on electricity prices in the Merredin electorate? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
(2) Will the minister confirm that uniform tariffs in Merredin have never been altered and that the Government’s decision will have no impact on electricity prices in the Merredin electorate? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
(1)-(2) I am amazed that a member of the Liberal party would ask a question on regional policy because the Liberal Party, and in particular the Leader of the Opposition, has been well and truly put on the spot by the Leader of the National Party. This is what the Leader of the National Party says about the Leader of the Opposition - The fact is that Mr Barnett represents a city electorate and a city-based party. He has always put the interests of the city and economic rationalism above the needs of country WA and nothing has changed. The Leader of the National Party goes on to say - His johnny-come-lately act will not wash with the people of Merredin,” . . . I am amazed that the opposition spokesperson on energy would ask a question about anything to do with regional policy. The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated his contempt for the regions by imposing higher electricity prices on growing regional businesses. We pointed out to the people of Merredin that the Leader of the Opposition is a very recent convert to support for the regions. In his previous capacity as Minister for Energy he did the regions down. He might not have done Merredin in particular down, but he did the regions in general down through his energy policies.
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