❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Energy regarding Western Power's responsibility for the 2009 Toodyay fires, referencing conflicting reports and settlement negotiations. The Minister confirms discussions with Western Power's CEO and ongoing mediation.
AnsweredQoN 862Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN
POWER — TOODYAY FIRES
862. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to evidence given by Western Power CEO Paul Italiano
yesterday to the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee, in which
he maintained that Western Power was neither responsible for nor negligent
about the 2009 Toodyay fires, that the cause of the fire was not known but that
settlement negotiations had been entered into in order to give victims closure.
(1) How do
these assertions sit with the finding of EnergySafety WA's ''Final
Electrical Incident Report'' dated 10 August 2010, which concluded that
pole 43 fell, causing the fire?
(2) Has the
minister had discussions or meetings with anyone at Western Power at which the
issue of settlement of legal action was discussed?
(3) If yes to (2), with whom and on what dates?
The PRESIDENT : Member, can I clarify, because that is a
committee of another place: was that a public hearing?
Hon KATE DOUST : It was a public hearing, Mr President.
POWER — TOODYAY FIRES
862. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to evidence given by Western Power CEO Paul Italiano
yesterday to the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee, in which
he maintained that Western Power was neither responsible for nor negligent
about the 2009 Toodyay fires, that the cause of the fire was not known but that
settlement negotiations had been entered into in order to give victims closure.
(1) How do
these assertions sit with the finding of EnergySafety WA's ''Final
Electrical Incident Report'' dated 10 August 2010, which concluded that
pole 43 fell, causing the fire?
(2) Has the
minister had discussions or meetings with anyone at Western Power at which the
issue of settlement of legal action was discussed?
(3) If yes to (2), with whom and on what dates?
The PRESIDENT : Member, can I clarify, because that is a
committee of another place: was that a public hearing?
Hon KATE DOUST : It was a public hearing, Mr President.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) I have not
yet seen the transcript from yesterday's hearing. However, I understand
that the chief executive officer of Western Power made the observation, and is
of the opinion, that the cause of the fire has not been conclusively
determined. The second EnergySafety report into the Toodyay bushfire expressed
an opinion, not an unequivocal statement, that Western Power infrastructure was
responsible for the fire. However, it should be recognised that Western Power
wants to help claimants avoid a protracted and complicated litigation process,
given the time it has taken to resolve this issue. I understand that Western
Power's CEO also observed that this matter is ongoing.
(2) Yes. The
CEO of Western Power has kept me advised of developments, including that
Western Power would be participating in resumed mediation of the matter and
would honour its obligations to explore opportunities to resolve the matter in
good faith. The CEO subsequently advised me that the mediation has resulted in
the parties agreeing on a mechanism to resolve all claims.
(3) The
Western Power CEO has provided me with updates on its progress regarding this
matter during our regular meetings.
question.
(1) I have not
yet seen the transcript from yesterday's hearing. However, I understand
that the chief executive officer of Western Power made the observation, and is
of the opinion, that the cause of the fire has not been conclusively
determined. The second EnergySafety report into the Toodyay bushfire expressed
an opinion, not an unequivocal statement, that Western Power infrastructure was
responsible for the fire. However, it should be recognised that Western Power
wants to help claimants avoid a protracted and complicated litigation process,
given the time it has taken to resolve this issue. I understand that Western
Power's CEO also observed that this matter is ongoing.
(2) Yes. The
CEO of Western Power has kept me advised of developments, including that
Western Power would be participating in resumed mediation of the matter and
would honour its obligations to explore opportunities to resolve the matter in
good faith. The CEO subsequently advised me that the mediation has resulted in
the parties agreeing on a mechanism to resolve all claims.
(3) The
Western Power CEO has provided me with updates on its progress regarding this
matter during our regular meetings.
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