❓ Mr. Nalder questions the Premier about the Liberal Party's electricity plan, linking it to past legislation. The Premier dismisses the question as bizarre and criticizes the plan, claiming it will raise prices and lead to privatization.
AnsweredQoN 855Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY PRICES
855. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Premier explain to the Minister for Energy that the Liberal Party's
plan for cheaper power bills —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! It is
question time. The opposition has the opportunity to ask questions and I want
to hear the answers. I will call to order anyone else who interjects.
Mr D.C. NALDER : Can the
Premier explain to the Minister for Energy that the Liberal Party's
plan for cheaper power bills is not a thought bubble, given Labor first came up
with the concept as part of the legislation for the disaggregation of the old
Western Power?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M.J. Folkard interjected.
The SPEAKER : That is very
funny but your leader is on his feet and you think you are smarter than he is.
Let the Premier answer.
855. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Premier explain to the Minister for Energy that the Liberal Party's
plan for cheaper power bills —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! It is
question time. The opposition has the opportunity to ask questions and I want
to hear the answers. I will call to order anyone else who interjects.
Mr D.C. NALDER : Can the
Premier explain to the Minister for Energy that the Liberal Party's
plan for cheaper power bills is not a thought bubble, given Labor first came up
with the concept as part of the legislation for the disaggregation of the old
Western Power?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M.J. Folkard interjected.
The SPEAKER : That is very
funny but your leader is on his feet and you think you are smarter than he is.
Let the Premier answer.
AnswerView source ↗
In the history of bizarre questions
in this Parliament, that will be in the top 10. Can I explain to the minister,
who is sitting here, what the member's policy means based upon
something that happened 16 years ago? That is the member's question.
Legislation that dealt with those matters was in the first half of the last
decade. In fact, it was in 2005. The old Matt Birney was sitting there at that
time.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : The young
Matt Birney.
Mr M. McGOWAN : He is not so young anymore. He was
right there. I remember it well, back in that era. The member asked me about
something that happened 15 years ago when the current Minister for Energy was
not here, the member for Bateman was not here—in fact, none of the
opposition members, bar the member for South Perth, were here —
Mr D.C. Nalder : You were.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, I was
here and I remember it well. The premise of the member's question,
considering I am the only one who remembers it, at least amongst the
opposition, is false. I will explain it. To get to full retail contestability,
we must get to full cost reflectivity first. Full cost reflectivity means a big
increase in prices for households all over Western Australia. That is a fact.
The member's policy will mean a big increase in prices across the state
and enormous losses that the taxpayer will have to endure via Synergy. It is a Trojan
Horse for the Liberal Party to sell Synergy and Western Power. Do not worry; we
will let the people of the state know about it the whole way between now and
the state election. The thing about the opposition leader is that she should
not listen to the shadow Treasurer; he does not know what he is talking about.
in this Parliament, that will be in the top 10. Can I explain to the minister,
who is sitting here, what the member's policy means based upon
something that happened 16 years ago? That is the member's question.
Legislation that dealt with those matters was in the first half of the last
decade. In fact, it was in 2005. The old Matt Birney was sitting there at that
time.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : The young
Matt Birney.
Mr M. McGOWAN : He is not so young anymore. He was
right there. I remember it well, back in that era. The member asked me about
something that happened 15 years ago when the current Minister for Energy was
not here, the member for Bateman was not here—in fact, none of the
opposition members, bar the member for South Perth, were here —
Mr D.C. Nalder : You were.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, I was
here and I remember it well. The premise of the member's question,
considering I am the only one who remembers it, at least amongst the
opposition, is false. I will explain it. To get to full retail contestability,
we must get to full cost reflectivity first. Full cost reflectivity means a big
increase in prices for households all over Western Australia. That is a fact.
The member's policy will mean a big increase in prices across the state
and enormous losses that the taxpayer will have to endure via Synergy. It is a Trojan
Horse for the Liberal Party to sell Synergy and Western Power. Do not worry; we
will let the people of the state know about it the whole way between now and
the state election. The thing about the opposition leader is that she should
not listen to the shadow Treasurer; he does not know what he is talking about.
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