❓ Opposition questions the Treasurer about electricity price increases and the use of funds previously allocated to limit those increases. The Treasurer avoids direct answers, deferring to the budget release and referencing past statements by the Leader of the Opposition.
AnsweredQoN 388Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET — ELECTRICITY PRICE INCREASES
The government has chosen to release information to the media about household fees and charges and electricity investment ahead of the formal release of the state budget. (1) Will the Treasurer therefore now outline the assumptions for electricity price increases in subsequent years across the forward estimates? (2) What has the government done with the $780 million set aside in Labor’s forward estimates to restrict electricity price increases to 10 per cent per annum? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
The government has chosen to release information to the media about household fees and charges and electricity investment ahead of the formal release of the state budget. (1) Will the Treasurer therefore now outline the assumptions for electricity price increases in subsequent years across the forward estimates? (2) What has the government done with the $780 million set aside in Labor’s forward estimates to restrict electricity price increases to 10 per cent per annum? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
(1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
(1) Will the Treasurer therefore now outline the assumptions for electricity price increases in subsequent years across the forward estimates? (2) What has the government done with the $780 million set aside in Labor’s forward estimates to restrict electricity price increases to 10 per cent per annum? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
(2) What has the government done with the $780 million set aside in Labor’s forward estimates to restrict electricity price increases to 10 per cent per annum? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
(1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
(2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
(1) Will the Treasurer therefore now outline the assumptions for electricity price increases in subsequent years across the forward estimates? (2) What has the government done with the $780 million set aside in Labor’s forward estimates to restrict electricity price increases to 10 per cent per annum? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
(2) What has the government done with the $780 million set aside in Labor’s forward estimates to restrict electricity price increases to 10 per cent per annum? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
(1) No. That detail will be presented — Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr E.S. Ripper : So you can release information to the media — Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There are two more sleeps! I know that the Leader of the Opposition is not sleeping. I can just imagine the separation anxiety he has in relation to this year’s budget. I know he is missing it, but there are only two more sleeps before it is released. Yes, the government engaged in dialogue with the community around some aspects of the budget. Funnily enough, governments do that. I think members opposite might have done it when they were in government and I think the federal government might have been doing it over the past couple of weeks. It is one of those things that seem to happen every now and then. We quite enjoy it. (2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
(2) What is the second part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question? Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr E.S. Ripper : What have you done with the $780 million set aside in the forward estimates to restrict electricity increases to 10 per cent per annum? What have you done with that money? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I am not sure that I need to answer that. I think the Premier has covered it quite nicely. I think I will read one more quote from a recording of the Leader of the Opposition when he attempted to explain electricity prices. I had to listen to it a couple of times. It is along the same lines but better than the Premier’s quote, I am sorry. I paraphrase it as follows — Reform would put downward pressure on prices. What we have is upward pressure, overwhelming the downward pressure and creating ultimately, after the two factors have interacted, a price increase. That is remarkably clear! I welcome some clarity to the debate around electricity prices!
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