❓ Mr Kirkup questions the Premier about protecting Electrical Trades Union conditions at the expense of WA pensioners and vulnerable citizens. The Premier defends electricity workers and accuses Kirkup of hypocrisy.
AnsweredQoN 575Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RETAIL ELECTRICITY MARKET — COMPETITION
575. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Why
is the Premier protecting the cushy conditions of members of the Electrical Trades
Union at the significant expense of Western Australia's —
Several members interjected.
Point of Order
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE : I could
not hear the question. Can I ask the member to repeat it?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! The member can ask the supplementary again so that the member
can hear it. I heard it up here very clearly. He can do it again.
Questions without Notice
Resumed
Mr
Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Why is the Premier protecting the cushy conditions of
members of the Electrical Trades Union at the significant expense of Western Australia's
pensioners and most vulnerable?
575. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Why
is the Premier protecting the cushy conditions of members of the Electrical Trades
Union at the significant expense of Western Australia's —
Several members interjected.
Point of Order
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE : I could
not hear the question. Can I ask the member to repeat it?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! The member can ask the supplementary again so that the member
can hear it. I heard it up here very clearly. He can do it again.
Questions without Notice
Resumed
Mr
Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Why is the Premier protecting the cushy conditions of
members of the Electrical Trades Union at the significant expense of Western Australia's
pensioners and most vulnerable?
AnswerView source ↗
I look at the member for Dawesville
with a handkerchief in his pocket, in his three-piece suit, immaculately
groomed when he is complaining about the incomes of people who work in power stations
and people who fix electricity lines across this great state. They are people
whom we see out there after storms in hot, dangerous conditions after
bushfires, repairing lines—trades men and women who work hard on behalf
of our community. For him to come in here and attack those people, I assume he
is referring to the article in The Sunday
Times , maybe two or three weeks ago, in which there was coverage of some
pay that a few people in the electricity industry receive. Is that what he is
referring to? There it is, okay. He nodded. Now the opposition leader asked me
a question about something that happened in June. The member for Dawesville
asked me about something that happened three weeks ago on the basis of
enterprise bargaining agreements put in place under the last government. He
says that I am protecting conditions that he negotiated under EBAs when he was
in office. I mean, honestly? Who wrote that for you; did he write it for you?
The member needs to get a new oracle, in my opinion.
I just want to say this: I have the
utmost respect for people who work in our electricity industry, who work in
very difficult, tough conditions. Just so the member understands, because I do
not think he does, the members of the ETU in particular are the people who fix
the lines. The positions that were referred to in the article in The Sunday Times are those of members of
the Australian Services Union. In any event, the people who work in our
electricity industry do a good job in dangerous conditions across our state,
providing an essential service that we all rely upon.
The
SPEAKER : Before we go on, I call the Minister for Water to order for the
first time.
with a handkerchief in his pocket, in his three-piece suit, immaculately
groomed when he is complaining about the incomes of people who work in power stations
and people who fix electricity lines across this great state. They are people
whom we see out there after storms in hot, dangerous conditions after
bushfires, repairing lines—trades men and women who work hard on behalf
of our community. For him to come in here and attack those people, I assume he
is referring to the article in The Sunday
Times , maybe two or three weeks ago, in which there was coverage of some
pay that a few people in the electricity industry receive. Is that what he is
referring to? There it is, okay. He nodded. Now the opposition leader asked me
a question about something that happened in June. The member for Dawesville
asked me about something that happened three weeks ago on the basis of
enterprise bargaining agreements put in place under the last government. He
says that I am protecting conditions that he negotiated under EBAs when he was
in office. I mean, honestly? Who wrote that for you; did he write it for you?
The member needs to get a new oracle, in my opinion.
I just want to say this: I have the
utmost respect for people who work in our electricity industry, who work in
very difficult, tough conditions. Just so the member understands, because I do
not think he does, the members of the ETU in particular are the people who fix
the lines. The positions that were referred to in the article in The Sunday Times are those of members of
the Australian Services Union. In any event, the people who work in our
electricity industry do a good job in dangerous conditions across our state,
providing an essential service that we all rely upon.
The
SPEAKER : Before we go on, I call the Minister for Water to order for the
first time.
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