❓ Mr. Ripper questions Mr. Barnett about the West Kimberley power procurement process, the power purchase agreement timeline, and alleged lobbying against Commonwealth funding for the Derby tidal power project. Mr. Barnett denies lobbying and highlights issues with the Commonwealth's renewable energy scheme.
AnsweredQoN 304Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I would like to ask the Minister for Fair Trading a question, but the Minister for Energy seems more alert. (1) What is the current status of the west Kimberley power procurement process? (2) By when does the minister plan to have the power purchase agreement signed? (3) What was the Commonwealth Government’s response to the minister’s explicit lobbying for it not to spend renewable remote power generation money on the Kimberley tidal power project? Mr BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
(1) What is the current status of the west Kimberley power procurement process? (2) By when does the minister plan to have the power purchase agreement signed? (3) What was the Commonwealth Government’s response to the minister’s explicit lobbying for it not to spend renewable remote power generation money on the Kimberley tidal power project? Mr BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
(2) By when does the minister plan to have the power purchase agreement signed? (3) What was the Commonwealth Government’s response to the minister’s explicit lobbying for it not to spend renewable remote power generation money on the Kimberley tidal power project? Mr BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
(3) What was the Commonwealth Government’s response to the minister’s explicit lobbying for it not to spend renewable remote power generation money on the Kimberley tidal power project? Mr BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
(1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
(1) What is the current status of the west Kimberley power procurement process? (2) By when does the minister plan to have the power purchase agreement signed? (3) What was the Commonwealth Government’s response to the minister’s explicit lobbying for it not to spend renewable remote power generation money on the Kimberley tidal power project? Mr BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
(2) By when does the minister plan to have the power purchase agreement signed? (3) What was the Commonwealth Government’s response to the minister’s explicit lobbying for it not to spend renewable remote power generation money on the Kimberley tidal power project? Mr BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
(3) What was the Commonwealth Government’s response to the minister’s explicit lobbying for it not to spend renewable remote power generation money on the Kimberley tidal power project? Mr BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
(1)-(3) The last part of the question is quite curious. I have never lobbied the Federal Government to not spend money on the Derby tidal project. Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: You said you wrote to the Commonwealth Government, saying that you did not think the Kimberley tidal power project met the requirements of the program. Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: I pointed out some deficiencies. Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: I call that lobbying. Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: No, I pointed out some deficiencies of the renewable energy program. It is a minor point, but it is nevertheless a failing of the scheme that the grants are available only to non-grid-connected projects. In this State, many of the applicants would rely on a grid-connected situation. The Derby tidal project is a hydro-power scheme on a grid system. Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: They are building the grid system. Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: It does not matter; it is a grid system. Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: You will do anything to sink this project. Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: No, I simply pointed out to the Commonwealth that there is an anomaly in the criteria and that perhaps it should be amended. I have never made any suggestion to the Commonwealth about whether it should fund the Derby scheme. I have said publicly a number of times, including in this House, that if the Commonwealth Government wanted to give Tidal Energy Australia Pty Ltd some money, it could have done so at any time during past two years. It could do it tomorrow if it wished. Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: Will you table the letter? Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: The letter probably does not even refer to the tidal project. It referred to the limitations of the renewable energy scheme. Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: Will you table it? Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: Yes, I will find it and give it to the member. It points out some of the limitations of the Commonwealth’s scheme. Another problem is that it requires the State to agree to uniform tariffs. That is somewhat ironic, given that the Commonwealth increased the tax from 6¢ to 33¢ in regional areas. Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: Is uniform tariffs another issue about which you are arguing with the Commonwealth? The National Party would be glad to hear that. Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: Yes, because this State has a uniform tariff policy, and commonwealth taxes are the biggest problem in maintaining it. Uniform tariffs have nothing to do with a green energy scheme. I have simply written to the Commonwealth with some suggestions on how the scheme might be better applied. Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: When will you sign the power purchase agreement? Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: I understand Western Power’s board is examining that today. Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr Ripper: When will the contract be finalised? Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
Mr BARNETT: I do not know; the board is probably deciding on that now. The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, you are extending question time.
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