❓ Opposition questions a proposed electricity levy to fund the uniform tariff policy. Minister denies a new tax, emphasizing electricity reform aims to reduce prices and increase transparency, accusing the opposition of undermining the uniform tariff.
AnsweredQoN 915Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the proposed tax through which all electricity consumers will fund subsidies under the uniform tariff policy, as outlined in the report of the Electricity Reform Task Force, which states - Funding of cross-subsidies inherent in this policy can be facilitated . . . by: . . . raising a levy on SWIS access for all consumers below a certain consumption threshold . . . (1) Can the minister confirm that this cross-subsidy is currently running at $150 million a year? (2) Will the minister confirm that to implement a levy to meet the cross-subsidy, the Government will be required to bring legislation before this Parliament? Mr RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is wrong. There is no proposal for a new tax. There will be no new power tax. There will be no addition to the power prices that people are expected to pay as a result of electricity reform. Electricity reform is about reducing the high power prices that Western Australians now pay. The difference between the Australian average price and the Western Australian price for residential consumers is 22 per cent. Does the Leader of the Opposition want to do anything about that? Electricity reform is about driving down those prices. The Leader of the Opposition likes to paint himself as an expert on energy, but he is wrong about the cross-subsidy. The cross-subsidy for the off-the-grid regional power supply is about $45 million. We pay that when we pay our electricity bill. There is no proposal to ask people to pay more. A draft proposal has been put forward. It is not even a final recommendation, let alone a government decision. There is a draft recommendation to itemise consumers’ accounts so that they are accountable and transparent and people can see what they are paying for. That is fair. Why should Western Australians not be given proper information about what they are paying for? We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
. . . raising a levy on SWIS access for all consumers below a certain consumption threshold . . .
raising a levy on SWIS access for all consumers below a certain consumption threshold . . .
(2) Will the minister confirm that to implement a levy to meet the cross-subsidy, the Government will be required to bring legislation before this Parliament? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) The premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is wrong. There is no proposal for a new tax. There will be no new power tax. There will be no addition to the power prices that people are expected to pay as a result of electricity reform. Electricity reform is about reducing the high power prices that Western Australians now pay. The difference between the Australian average price and the Western Australian price for residential consumers is 22 per cent. Does the Leader of the Opposition want to do anything about that? Electricity reform is about driving down those prices. The Leader of the Opposition likes to paint himself as an expert on energy, but he is wrong about the cross-subsidy. The cross-subsidy for the off-the-grid regional power supply is about $45 million. We pay that when we pay our electricity bill. There is no proposal to ask people to pay more. A draft proposal has been put forward. It is not even a final recommendation, let alone a government decision. There is a draft recommendation to itemise consumers’ accounts so that they are accountable and transparent and people can see what they are paying for. That is fair. Why should Western Australians not be given proper information about what they are paying for? We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) The premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is wrong. There is no proposal for a new tax. There will be no new power tax. There will be no addition to the power prices that people are expected to pay as a result of electricity reform. Electricity reform is about reducing the high power prices that Western Australians now pay. The difference between the Australian average price and the Western Australian price for residential consumers is 22 per cent. Does the Leader of the Opposition want to do anything about that? Electricity reform is about driving down those prices. The Leader of the Opposition likes to paint himself as an expert on energy, but he is wrong about the cross-subsidy. The cross-subsidy for the off-the-grid regional power supply is about $45 million. We pay that when we pay our electricity bill. There is no proposal to ask people to pay more. A draft proposal has been put forward. It is not even a final recommendation, let alone a government decision. There is a draft recommendation to itemise consumers’ accounts so that they are accountable and transparent and people can see what they are paying for. That is fair. Why should Western Australians not be given proper information about what they are paying for? We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
(1)-(2) The premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is wrong. There is no proposal for a new tax. There will be no new power tax. There will be no addition to the power prices that people are expected to pay as a result of electricity reform. Electricity reform is about reducing the high power prices that Western Australians now pay. The difference between the Australian average price and the Western Australian price for residential consumers is 22 per cent. Does the Leader of the Opposition want to do anything about that? Electricity reform is about driving down those prices. The Leader of the Opposition likes to paint himself as an expert on energy, but he is wrong about the cross-subsidy. The cross-subsidy for the off-the-grid regional power supply is about $45 million. We pay that when we pay our electricity bill. There is no proposal to ask people to pay more. A draft proposal has been put forward. It is not even a final recommendation, let alone a government decision. There is a draft recommendation to itemise consumers’ accounts so that they are accountable and transparent and people can see what they are paying for. That is fair. Why should Western Australians not be given proper information about what they are paying for? We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
. . . raising a levy on SWIS access for all consumers below a certain consumption threshold . . .
raising a levy on SWIS access for all consumers below a certain consumption threshold . . .
(2) Will the minister confirm that to implement a levy to meet the cross-subsidy, the Government will be required to bring legislation before this Parliament? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) The premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is wrong. There is no proposal for a new tax. There will be no new power tax. There will be no addition to the power prices that people are expected to pay as a result of electricity reform. Electricity reform is about reducing the high power prices that Western Australians now pay. The difference between the Australian average price and the Western Australian price for residential consumers is 22 per cent. Does the Leader of the Opposition want to do anything about that? Electricity reform is about driving down those prices. The Leader of the Opposition likes to paint himself as an expert on energy, but he is wrong about the cross-subsidy. The cross-subsidy for the off-the-grid regional power supply is about $45 million. We pay that when we pay our electricity bill. There is no proposal to ask people to pay more. A draft proposal has been put forward. It is not even a final recommendation, let alone a government decision. There is a draft recommendation to itemise consumers’ accounts so that they are accountable and transparent and people can see what they are paying for. That is fair. Why should Western Australians not be given proper information about what they are paying for? We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) The premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is wrong. There is no proposal for a new tax. There will be no new power tax. There will be no addition to the power prices that people are expected to pay as a result of electricity reform. Electricity reform is about reducing the high power prices that Western Australians now pay. The difference between the Australian average price and the Western Australian price for residential consumers is 22 per cent. Does the Leader of the Opposition want to do anything about that? Electricity reform is about driving down those prices. The Leader of the Opposition likes to paint himself as an expert on energy, but he is wrong about the cross-subsidy. The cross-subsidy for the off-the-grid regional power supply is about $45 million. We pay that when we pay our electricity bill. There is no proposal to ask people to pay more. A draft proposal has been put forward. It is not even a final recommendation, let alone a government decision. There is a draft recommendation to itemise consumers’ accounts so that they are accountable and transparent and people can see what they are paying for. That is fair. Why should Western Australians not be given proper information about what they are paying for? We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
(1)-(2) The premise of the question from the Leader of the Opposition is wrong. There is no proposal for a new tax. There will be no new power tax. There will be no addition to the power prices that people are expected to pay as a result of electricity reform. Electricity reform is about reducing the high power prices that Western Australians now pay. The difference between the Australian average price and the Western Australian price for residential consumers is 22 per cent. Does the Leader of the Opposition want to do anything about that? Electricity reform is about driving down those prices. The Leader of the Opposition likes to paint himself as an expert on energy, but he is wrong about the cross-subsidy. The cross-subsidy for the off-the-grid regional power supply is about $45 million. We pay that when we pay our electricity bill. There is no proposal to ask people to pay more. A draft proposal has been put forward. It is not even a final recommendation, let alone a government decision. There is a draft recommendation to itemise consumers’ accounts so that they are accountable and transparent and people can see what they are paying for. That is fair. Why should Western Australians not be given proper information about what they are paying for? We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
We already pay the cross-subsidy to support the uniform tariff. I am amazed at the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I think he is trying to undermine the uniform tariff. If I were in the National Party, I would be paying careful attention to what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, because he has form on the question of the uniform tariff. The National Party needs to watch him closely. I can see what he is doing. He is starting to run a campaign to persuade metropolitan people that they should not pay a cross-subsidy. This Government is about a fair deal for all electricity consumers across this State. We want to protect country people and make sure that they get an advantage from competition reform in the electricity industry, just as we expect metropolitan consumers to benefit.
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