❓ Mr. Catania asks how the $600 electricity credit will be distributed to households in mining towns and strata arrangements. The Treasurer responds that the Department of Finance is working on an application process to ensure these individuals receive the credit, criticizing the opposition's suggestion to means-test the payment.
AnsweredQoN 812Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY CREDIT — 2020–21 STATE
BUDGET
812. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Treasurer:
I
refer to advice received from Minister Johnston's office that the $600
WA household electricity credit, administered by the Department of
Finance, will be extended to households billed by non-government providers. How
will consumers in towns like Paraburdoo, Tom Price, Pannawonica, Dampier and
Wickham, who have power provided by mining companies, or those on split meter
strata arrangements receive the credit, and when are they likely to receive it?
Mr R.S. Love : Good question.
BUDGET
812. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Treasurer:
I
refer to advice received from Minister Johnston's office that the $600
WA household electricity credit, administered by the Department of
Finance, will be extended to households billed by non-government providers. How
will consumers in towns like Paraburdoo, Tom Price, Pannawonica, Dampier and
Wickham, who have power provided by mining companies, or those on split meter
strata arrangements receive the credit, and when are they likely to receive it?
Mr R.S. Love : Good question.
AnswerView source ↗
Yes, that is a good question from
the member. We are working on that at the moment. Suffice it to say, that is
not easy to do when we do not have vision into those arrangements. As a state,
we obviously do not have vision into the scenario that the member has given
around companies paying when the bill goes to a company, which then passes it
on to a tenant. The Department of Finance is working that up now. There will
probably have to be an application process so that we can see it and pay it.
Mr V.A. CATANIA : For an
individual?
Mr B.S. WYATT : Yes, for the
individual. We are working on that now.
The vast majority will roll out
from November with Synergy and Horizon, so I expect that it will be paid over
the summer period, probably in November and
December. I cannot give a precise answer. Suffice it to say, we are very ,
very keen to get the money into the account so people get the stimulatory
impact of that payment.
It
is a good question, but I make one point: we on this side of the house are keen
to ensure that every Western Australian gets the advantage of this payment. I have noted a critique from the
other side of the chamber that it should be means tested. Under the
opposition's proposal to have it means tested, self-funded retirees
would not get access to the payment and many
of the people who work for mining companies—such as those the member
for North West Central mentioned—would not get this payment. It
would eliminate a vast majority of Western Australians if we were to do what
the Leader of the Opposition wants us to do; that is, to means test this
particular policy.
I was incredibly disappointed to
hear the member for Cottesloe last night describe this policy ''a
disgraceful waste of a precious resource''. We are very, very keen for
every single Western Australian to get the benefit of this payment, absolutely.
I am surprised that the opposition, which has complained about the cost of
living, would now want to means test a relief that we want every single Western
Australian to get. Means testing would simply mean that a lot of people who
often miss out on government support would not get it. The McGowan government
will ensure that every household in Western Australia gets this support.
the member. We are working on that at the moment. Suffice it to say, that is
not easy to do when we do not have vision into those arrangements. As a state,
we obviously do not have vision into the scenario that the member has given
around companies paying when the bill goes to a company, which then passes it
on to a tenant. The Department of Finance is working that up now. There will
probably have to be an application process so that we can see it and pay it.
Mr V.A. CATANIA : For an
individual?
Mr B.S. WYATT : Yes, for the
individual. We are working on that now.
The vast majority will roll out
from November with Synergy and Horizon, so I expect that it will be paid over
the summer period, probably in November and
December. I cannot give a precise answer. Suffice it to say, we are very ,
very keen to get the money into the account so people get the stimulatory
impact of that payment.
It
is a good question, but I make one point: we on this side of the house are keen
to ensure that every Western Australian gets the advantage of this payment. I have noted a critique from the
other side of the chamber that it should be means tested. Under the
opposition's proposal to have it means tested, self-funded retirees
would not get access to the payment and many
of the people who work for mining companies—such as those the member
for North West Central mentioned—would not get this payment. It
would eliminate a vast majority of Western Australians if we were to do what
the Leader of the Opposition wants us to do; that is, to means test this
particular policy.
I was incredibly disappointed to
hear the member for Cottesloe last night describe this policy ''a
disgraceful waste of a precious resource''. We are very, very keen for
every single Western Australian to get the benefit of this payment, absolutely.
I am surprised that the opposition, which has complained about the cost of
living, would now want to means test a relief that we want every single Western
Australian to get. Means testing would simply mean that a lot of people who
often miss out on government support would not get it. The McGowan government
will ensure that every household in Western Australia gets this support.
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