❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Energy regarding a potential split of Synergy, a state-owned energy corporation. The Minister denies plans to split Synergy and criticises Mr. Johnston's understanding of the issue.
AnsweredQoN 639Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SYNERGY —
DISAGGREGATION
639. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the
Minister for Energy:
I see today that
after eight years of the Liberal and National Parties running the electricity
system, the minister has announced that he has a plan to split Synergy.
(1) Is it true that after being energy
minister for three and a half years, the minister now knows what he wants to do
with Synergy?
(2) Having amalgamated Synergy as the first
thing he did when he became minister, why is the minister now proposing to
split Synergy again?
(3) After three and a half years of
developing his plan, on what date does the minister plan to split Synergy in
two again?
DISAGGREGATION
639. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the
Minister for Energy:
I see today that
after eight years of the Liberal and National Parties running the electricity
system, the minister has announced that he has a plan to split Synergy.
(1) Is it true that after being energy
minister for three and a half years, the minister now knows what he wants to do
with Synergy?
(2) Having amalgamated Synergy as the first
thing he did when he became minister, why is the minister now proposing to
split Synergy again?
(3) After three and a half years of
developing his plan, on what date does the minister plan to split Synergy in
two again?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The member has been shadow Minister for
Energy for as long as I have been Minister for Energy and he still does not get
it. He has a hard time reading a newspaper article. When someone asked him the
other day what his plan was for the energy sector, he said, ''Why are
you asking me? I'm a high school dropout. I don't know. I just
go ask the Public Utilities Office.'' That is what he said.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Through the Chair, please.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I call you to order. Minister, I want you to
address the questions that have been asked through the Chair. Thank you.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I have
not said that we are splitting Synergy. The newspaper article does not say that
we are splitting Synergy. It does not say that. So, the central point of the
question is false.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Are you—are you doing it?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : No. The article did not say it. I did not say it. Where did he
get it from? Made it up! So, for the rest of the questions, if the starting
point of the question is false and baseless, how am I supposed to answer the
rest?
Energy for as long as I have been Minister for Energy and he still does not get
it. He has a hard time reading a newspaper article. When someone asked him the
other day what his plan was for the energy sector, he said, ''Why are
you asking me? I'm a high school dropout. I don't know. I just
go ask the Public Utilities Office.'' That is what he said.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Through the Chair, please.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I call you to order. Minister, I want you to
address the questions that have been asked through the Chair. Thank you.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I have
not said that we are splitting Synergy. The newspaper article does not say that
we are splitting Synergy. It does not say that. So, the central point of the
question is false.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Are you—are you doing it?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : No. The article did not say it. I did not say it. Where did he
get it from? Made it up! So, for the rest of the questions, if the starting
point of the question is false and baseless, how am I supposed to answer the
rest?
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