❓ Hon Kate Doust questions the Minister for Energy, Hon Peter Collier, regarding the cost blow-out of the residential net feed-in tariff scheme and the period for which new applications were accepted after the suspension date. The Minister avoids directly answering the questions, instead highlighting the scheme's success and criticizing the previous Labor government's approach.
AnsweredQoN 1061Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY NET FEED-IN TARIFF — GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
I note the Treasurer’s answer to question without notice 1030 yesterday that information relating to the residential net feed-in tariff scheme is currently considered cabinet-in-confidence. The Premier has also commented at length today about the problems with this scheme. (1) Given that the Premier has clearly stated that there is a blow-out of this scheme, what is the exact cost blow-out figure? (2) For how long beyond the suspension date were new applications accepted and processed? The PRESIDENT : Minister for Energy, once again it is referring to matters that are before another place — Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER
I note the Treasurer’s answer to question without notice 1030 yesterday that information relating to the residential net feed-in tariff scheme is currently considered cabinet-in-confidence. The Premier has also commented at length today about the problems with this scheme. (1) Given that the Premier has clearly stated that there is a blow-out of this scheme, what is the exact cost blow-out figure? (2) For how long beyond the suspension date were new applications accepted and processed? The PRESIDENT : Minister for Energy, once again it is referring to matters that are before another place — Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
(1) Given that the Premier has clearly stated that there is a blow-out of this scheme, what is the exact cost blow-out figure? (2) For how long beyond the suspension date were new applications accepted and processed? The PRESIDENT : Minister for Energy, once again it is referring to matters that are before another place — Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
(2) For how long beyond the suspension date were new applications accepted and processed? The PRESIDENT : Minister for Energy, once again it is referring to matters that are before another place — Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Minister for Energy, once again it is referring to matters that are before another place — Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
(1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
(1) Given that the Premier has clearly stated that there is a blow-out of this scheme, what is the exact cost blow-out figure? (2) For how long beyond the suspension date were new applications accepted and processed? The PRESIDENT : Minister for Energy, once again it is referring to matters that are before another place — Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
(2) For how long beyond the suspension date were new applications accepted and processed? The PRESIDENT : Minister for Energy, once again it is referring to matters that are before another place — Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Minister for Energy, once again it is referring to matters that are before another place — Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : Mr President, I didn’t say that. The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : — but the question is clearly quite specific in relation to the details sought on a certain matter. Minister for Energy. Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
I thank the honourable member for the question. (1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
(1)–(2) I make one thing perfectly clear; the fact that we now have 73 000 homes with solar photovoltaics on their roofs is not an indication of failure; in fact, it is an indication of roaring success. Had the Labor Party had its way, it would be paying 60c gross for a feed-in tariff, which would have added literally billions and billions of dollars to the budget bottom line. There was a significant increase in applications leading up to September — Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : Just answer the question—what is the blow-out figure? You can never answer the question. Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, Hon Kate Doust is being quite irritating, and I would like some advice. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! I just appeal to you to be patient. I think the minister is trying to give you an answer. Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : That would be unusual. The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Let him get on with it. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I could talk all day about this thing. Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I still have five minutes. Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Ken Travers : Would you make any sense if you did? Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Well, I could if Hon Ken Travers could—no, I will not, no. Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Ken Travers : You wouldn’t, would you? That is true! Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Where was I at? Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : You were about to give an answer on the blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : On the what, sorry? On the blow-out figure? Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : The blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Okay; let us have a look at the blow-out figure. Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : Your blow-out figure. Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : This is a good one—let us have a look at the blow-out then. The ALP allocated $13.5 million for the feed-in tariff — Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : No, let’s talk about your figure in 2011. Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no—ah, ah! Mr President, have you told her — The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Look, members have heard it 100 times before; you have to give the minister an opportunity to provide that answer. You might not agree with the answer, you might not like it, but you have to listen to it. Minister. Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. She absolutely has to listen, because this is a pearler. Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Ken Travers : Even if you do say so yourself. Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Oh, look, it is like a cancer that just grows; like mushrooms, it just emerges! There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
There was an allocation of $13.5 million for a gross feed-in tariff to contribute 10 megawatts of capacity to the grid. That is what the Labor Party allocated—$13.5 million. Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : We didn’t win; you won, and you implemented it! Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Mr President, she is starting again! The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you. What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
What we would have had is 2 900 Rolls Royce solar panel systems on roofs throughout Western Australia, so we would have had a deluxe system that we could have paid off in a couple of years, and the rest of Western Australia would have missed out. Yes, we came in, we said 40c net feed-in tariff. We copped it from both sides; the Greens (WA) and the Labor Party said it was terrible and inadequate et cetera. We said 40c net, then we reduced it, which was terrible, terrible—devil incarnate! Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : Minister, why don’t you stop dancing and just tell us the figure? Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No, no, look — The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Deputy Leader, just be patient and listen to the answer. Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I have to give a bit of background to this one; I have to say, this is a classic rewriting of history here! So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
So they are sitting here moaning and groaning because it was not good enough, but what we then did was have a feed-in tariff that was phenomenally successful, and, yes, we had a significant increase in demand from the time of the budget to 30 June—that happened. We had a significant number of Western Australians who decided they would do the right thing, as you did yourself, Mr President, and put solar panels on their roofs. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : And he has regretted it ever since! Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : There it is; there is that further irritation! Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Several members interjected. Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : I am getting a bit frustrated here, Mr President. Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : We know you’re frustrated. Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No; get your mind above your navel! Let us move on! So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
So now we have a situation of 73 000 homes with solar panels on their roofs as a direct result of the decision that was made by this government. Yes, there is a significant impost on the taxpayer, and that is why we have to look at it; that is why we suspended it. As I said yesterday, I am not going beyond the response given; that is going to be part of the midyear review, and that is what we will do. We are currently undertaking that process, so I cannot provide any more than that, and I have no intention of doing that. What I will say at this stage is that had we gone down the path of the Labor Party, one of two things would have happened. We could have had 2 900 homes with solar PVs paid off in four or five years, and that would have been the end of the feed-in tariff. Alternatively, we could have had 73 000 homes with solar PVs on, generating more than 150 megawatts of power—of renewable energy; I assume the Greens are delighted with that—into the grid, which is a very positive news story. Yes, it has cost a significant amount of money to Western Australian taxpayers, so we did the responsible thing; as a government we said we will suspend the system and we will address the way forward beyond that. That is exactly what we are doing. As I have said in answer to a number of other questions, we will continue to look at the renewable energy buyback scheme and identify whether that is appropriate. I cannot say for a second that that is going to shift; around to 6c to 8c a kilowatt hour is what all other jurisdictions have. But as far as this government is concerned, we can say, hand on heart, that we have ensured that we have stimulated the market—we now have a lot more interest in the solar industry than ever before—and we now have 73 000 homes with solar PVs on top of their roofs, generating an enormous amount of renewable energy into the grid, so it is a good news story. Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
Hon Kate Doust : That’s a nice response, but it does not answer the question.
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