❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Minister about Synergy's financial situation, a potential bailout, borrowing instructions, the impact on coal-fired power station retirement, and the CEO's resignation. The Minister cites cabinet-in-confidence for some answers but affirms commitment to coal retirement and denies the CEO's resignation was bailout-related.
AnsweredQoN 457Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Synergy—Operating surplus
457. Hon Dr Steve Thomas to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to my
questions without notice 1211 and 1286, asked on 16 and 23 October 2024, respectively
highlighting Synergy's stunning accounting reversal of the onerous $773.7 million
booked impairment in the 2023–24 Annual
Report on State Finances .
(1) On what date prior to last year's midyear
review did the minister seek cabinet approval for a Synergy taxpayer-funded lifeline
bailout valued in the hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars?
(2) Subsequent to the cabinet refusal to bailout
Synergy's spiralling operational subsidies, was Synergy advised or instructed
by government to borrow $500 million?
(3) What impact does Synergy's teetering financial
viability have on the government's unachievable timeframe to retire all coal-fired
power stations by 2030 and meet its net emissions target by 2050?
(4) Was the curious timing of Synergy CEO David
Fyfe's resignation on 16 January 2025 a consequence of a refused government
bailout of Synergy?
It is a Thursday!
457. Hon Dr Steve Thomas to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to my
questions without notice 1211 and 1286, asked on 16 and 23 October 2024, respectively
highlighting Synergy's stunning accounting reversal of the onerous $773.7 million
booked impairment in the 2023–24 Annual
Report on State Finances .
(1) On what date prior to last year's midyear
review did the minister seek cabinet approval for a Synergy taxpayer-funded lifeline
bailout valued in the hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars?
(2) Subsequent to the cabinet refusal to bailout
Synergy's spiralling operational subsidies, was Synergy advised or instructed
by government to borrow $500 million?
(3) What impact does Synergy's teetering financial
viability have on the government's unachievable timeframe to retire all coal-fired
power stations by 2030 and meet its net emissions target by 2050?
(4) Was the curious timing of Synergy CEO David
Fyfe's resignation on 16 January 2025 a consequence of a refused government
bailout of Synergy?
It is a Thursday!
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. Happy Thursday!
(1)–(2) These matters relate to government
decision-making, which is subject to cabinet-in-confidence.
Several members interjected.
The President: Order! I hope I did not hear what I thought I heard. The Leader of the House.
Hon Stephen Dawson: Thanks, President.
(3) The government remains committed to retiring
all state-owned coal-fired power stations by 2030.
(4) No.
honourable member for some notice of the question. Happy Thursday!
(1)–(2) These matters relate to government
decision-making, which is subject to cabinet-in-confidence.
Several members interjected.
The President: Order! I hope I did not hear what I thought I heard. The Leader of the House.
Hon Stephen Dawson: Thanks, President.
(3) The government remains committed to retiring
all state-owned coal-fired power stations by 2030.
(4) No.
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