❓ Mr. Nalder questions the Premier on foreign ownership of the Warradarge wind farm and the sale of state-owned power stations, contrasting it with the Premier's opposition to selling Western Power. The Premier deflects, accuses the opposition of wanting to sell state assets, and defends the government's renewable energy initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 647Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN
POWER — FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
647. Mr D.C. NALDER to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's vocal opposition to the
partial sale of Western Power to Australian superannuation funds.
(1) Can the
Premier confirm commencement of a new 180-megawatt Warradarge wind farm, which his government is underwriting and
that it will be foreign owned, foreign built and foreign operated?
(2) Can he
also confirm that he is selling two existing state-owned power stations to a foreign
entity?
POWER — FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
647. Mr D.C. NALDER to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's vocal opposition to the
partial sale of Western Power to Australian superannuation funds.
(1) Can the
Premier confirm commencement of a new 180-megawatt Warradarge wind farm, which his government is underwriting and
that it will be foreign owned, foreign built and foreign operated?
(2) Can he
also confirm that he is selling two existing state-owned power stations to a foreign
entity?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
The Minister for Energy is sitting over there, so perhaps the member for
Bateman could have asked him for specific details.
I will explain this to him. Western Power and the provision
of electricity through poles and wires is a natural monopoly and we did not
support the sale of a natural monopoly. We were very clear about that. We were
very clear that we did not support the sale of Fremantle port, which is the
state's only container port, again, a natural monopoly. We do not
support the sale of the Water Corporation, a natural monopoly. Clearly, from
the member's questions, it is showing that he wants to sell the Water
Corporation, Western Power and Fremantle port, so we will be able to go to the
next election and let people know that that is their policy. That is what they
want to do.
In the case of the arrangement announced in the paper today,
clearly there is a significant expansion of renewable energy in Western Australia
under this government and a significant expansion in jobs under this government
due to the arrangement published today. I support renewable energy and I support
jobs. Again, the Liberal Party, by the tone of its questions, does not support
renewable energy. Last week it did not support it and this week it does not
support it. The third point to make is that —
Mr D.C. Nalder : I don't
know how you draw that conclusion from that question.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
member asked one last week and asked one this week. When it comes to the
generation of electricity in Western Australia, we find that around half of it
is privately provided. In Collie, we find that the Bluewaters Power Station was
privately provided due to the changes made in the mid-2000s by the former Labor
government. A range of energy and power providers across the state provide generation
capacity into the grid. Some are owned by major corporations, some are owned by
the state and some are owned by households. There are thousands of energy
providers across Western Australia; in fact, hundreds of thousands.
Mr D.C. Nalder :
Yes, we agree.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why
are you asking the question then?
The arrangement was published today and it will expand the
renewable energy footprint. It will not have an impact on the debt situation
confronting the state. It will expand the amount that is under Synergy's
control. It will be under Synergy's control. It is a decent arrangement
for the future of power provision in Western Australia and we are not selling
Western Power, a natural monopoly.
The Minister for Energy is sitting over there, so perhaps the member for
Bateman could have asked him for specific details.
I will explain this to him. Western Power and the provision
of electricity through poles and wires is a natural monopoly and we did not
support the sale of a natural monopoly. We were very clear about that. We were
very clear that we did not support the sale of Fremantle port, which is the
state's only container port, again, a natural monopoly. We do not
support the sale of the Water Corporation, a natural monopoly. Clearly, from
the member's questions, it is showing that he wants to sell the Water
Corporation, Western Power and Fremantle port, so we will be able to go to the
next election and let people know that that is their policy. That is what they
want to do.
In the case of the arrangement announced in the paper today,
clearly there is a significant expansion of renewable energy in Western Australia
under this government and a significant expansion in jobs under this government
due to the arrangement published today. I support renewable energy and I support
jobs. Again, the Liberal Party, by the tone of its questions, does not support
renewable energy. Last week it did not support it and this week it does not
support it. The third point to make is that —
Mr D.C. Nalder : I don't
know how you draw that conclusion from that question.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
member asked one last week and asked one this week. When it comes to the
generation of electricity in Western Australia, we find that around half of it
is privately provided. In Collie, we find that the Bluewaters Power Station was
privately provided due to the changes made in the mid-2000s by the former Labor
government. A range of energy and power providers across the state provide generation
capacity into the grid. Some are owned by major corporations, some are owned by
the state and some are owned by households. There are thousands of energy
providers across Western Australia; in fact, hundreds of thousands.
Mr D.C. Nalder :
Yes, we agree.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why
are you asking the question then?
The arrangement was published today and it will expand the
renewable energy footprint. It will not have an impact on the debt situation
confronting the state. It will expand the amount that is under Synergy's
control. It will be under Synergy's control. It is a decent arrangement
for the future of power provision in Western Australia and we are not selling
Western Power, a natural monopoly.
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