❓ Question regarding Water Corporation CEO's comments on privatisation. Minister assures no privatisation will occur under current government policy, criticising the previous Liberal government's financial management.
AnsweredQoN 645Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER CORPORATION - PRIVATISATION COMMENTS BY CEO
Given the reported comments by the chief executive officer of the Water Corporation, Dr Jim Gill, in today’s The West Australian , will the minister confirm the government’s opposition to the privatisation of major government services? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cottesloe. Mr J.C. KOBELKE
Given the reported comments by the chief executive officer of the Water Corporation, Dr Jim Gill, in today’s The West Australian , will the minister confirm the government’s opposition to the privatisation of major government services? Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cottesloe. Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cottesloe. Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cottesloe. Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cottesloe. Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cottesloe. Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
I thank the member for his question. It should be well known to people that government policy is not to privatise essential services or major infrastructures - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : - that deliver those services. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Water Corporation will not be selling off any major infrastructure - not at all. I realise that there is a view out there - this seems to be something that has come into the mind of Dr Jim Gill - that because the last Liberal government ran deficit after deficit, it had to sell off valuable assets to cover its deficits. We now have a Treasurer and a government that are managing the state’s affairs and there is no such need to sell off assets to cover debt. We have a philosophical position also that there are no benefits from privatisation. Regardless of that philosophical position, the Liberal government through its very poor financial management was driven to privatising assets and selling off the state because it was running debt after debt after debt. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Capel to order for the first time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Today I spoke to Dr Jim Gill and also the Water Corporation board chaired by Mr Tim Ungar. I respect Dr Gill and I believe he offers good leadership to the Water Corporation. However, I have made it very clear to him that his statements go beyond his powers; in fact, they go beyond the powers of the Water Corporation board because the legislation currently in place requires the minister responsible - in this case the Minister for Water Resources - to approve any major new construction or the sale of major assets. I, as the responsible minister, and in keeping with the Carpenter government policy, will not be authorising the sale of any major asset of the Water Corporation that is essential to that service. I have made that absolutely clear to Dr Gill. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the third time and the member for Capel to order for the second time. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : He accepts that it is government policy and that it has continued to be government policy. I expect that he will continue to work as the CEO of the Water Corporation in compliance with the clearly stated policy of this government.
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