❓ A parliamentary question regarding the cost blow-out of the residential feed-in tariff scheme, with the Premier admitting to a potential overrun and internal audit. The opposition accuses the government of administrative failure.
AnsweredQoN 828Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENERGY — RESIDENTIAL FEED-IN TARIFF SCHEME
I refer to the residential feed-in tariff scheme established in 2009 by the Barnett government. (1) Can the Premier confirm the original estimated cost of this scheme was $23 million and that then blew out to $127 million? (2) Has the estimated total cost again blown out and is it now in the vicinity of $500 million? (3) What is the reason for any blow-out? (4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the residential feed-in tariff scheme established in 2009 by the Barnett government. (1) Can the Premier confirm the original estimated cost of this scheme was $23 million and that then blew out to $127 million? (2) Has the estimated total cost again blown out and is it now in the vicinity of $500 million? (3) What is the reason for any blow-out? (4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(1) Can the Premier confirm the original estimated cost of this scheme was $23 million and that then blew out to $127 million? (2) Has the estimated total cost again blown out and is it now in the vicinity of $500 million? (3) What is the reason for any blow-out? (4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(2) Has the estimated total cost again blown out and is it now in the vicinity of $500 million? (3) What is the reason for any blow-out? (4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(3) What is the reason for any blow-out? (4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(1) Can the Premier confirm the original estimated cost of this scheme was $23 million and that then blew out to $127 million? (2) Has the estimated total cost again blown out and is it now in the vicinity of $500 million? (3) What is the reason for any blow-out? (4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(2) Has the estimated total cost again blown out and is it now in the vicinity of $500 million? (3) What is the reason for any blow-out? (4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(3) What is the reason for any blow-out? (4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(4) What administrative mechanisms did the Premier put in place to contain the cost of this scheme? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
(1)–(4) At the time of the last election, the then Liberal opposition committed to match what the previous government had announced in terms of a feed-in tariff, which it had estimated to cost about $13 million a year. Those figures proved to be more than inadequate; they were hopelessly inaccurate. Also, the scheme was not in any way properly developed. However, we honoured our commitment and we introduced the scheme, but the cost simply ran away. Effectively, it meant a subsidy was paid by other electricity consumers to those who could afford to put photovoltaic systems on their roofs. That was a 40c scheme. We brought it down to 20c, but it still blew out. I commend people for taking up photovoltaics and reducing their carbon footprint—that is a good thing—but I do not believe that it is necessary for the wider electricity-consuming public to subsidise those people. Good luck to them. Typically, they tend to be higher income earners. We get lower income electricity consumers subsidising electricity savings for higher income electricity consumers. We have placed the scheme in suspension and put it on hold. Nevertheless, people get about a 7c refund for electricity sold into the grid. The main savings from photovoltaics are in the reduction of electricity bills and any scheme — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the blow-out $500 million? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not. Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : What is it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is nothing like $500 million. I was trying to answer the member’s question, but again he continually interrupts. When we placed the scheme under suspension, we said that the scheme would cease on 30 June or when the in-store capacity reached 150 megawatts. There was a rush. I am not yet sure that the scheme was cut off at the time it should have been; in other words, when the 150-megawatt point was reached. The scheme may have gone beyond that if the Office of Energy and Synergy continued to sign up people when in fact 150 megawatts had passed. It is being looked at by Treasury, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is currently examining whether the scheme overran the cut-off period. Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr E.S. Ripper : So, there is a big problem here? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is a problem, yes. The scheme seems to have overrun. We do not know the answer to that yet; it is being looked at at the moment. Therefore, there is an overrun of the scheme — Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : You do know the answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is an overrun in the scheme that I think is regrettable, but I make the point that even if that overrun has occurred—I do not know the quantum of it yet, but I imagine it is a significant amount of money—has that money been lost? No; it has actually funded photovoltaics; that is what has happened. Therefore, the only downside is that, yes, the scheme has cost more than the government anticipated — Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : That is a contrary argument to what you were running earlier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No; the scheme has cost more — Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : You’re running contradictory arguments. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The scheme, member for Rockingham, has cost more than was anticipated and it means, if you like, that this government has spent more than it planned to spend on subsidising photovoltaics. We are also checking to ensure that those photovoltaics have been put into place. Basically, an internal audit of the scheme is taking place as there should be. Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : It was an administrative failure; you just admitted it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, if the scheme was not cut off at 150 megawatts, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : Your government. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it was. Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : Yes, and you failed. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No — Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : No? Someone else failed! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Is there a danger of fraud? Are you also worried about fraud? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Who knows? The scheme was — Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr M. McGowan : Who knows? Did you just say “Who knows”? The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, if you want to ask a supplementary question, I will give you the opportunity. If you continue to interject, we might finish question time here. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The work that has been done by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet—I assume people were signed up for the scheme beyond the 150 megawatt point—is to find out how far beyond it went, how it happened, assuming it did happen, and indeed if there was anything improper. I do not know that there was anything improper in it. I have no basis for saying that, but certainly it is one issue. Were people knowingly—perhaps through the dealers—signing on to a scheme that had actually terminated or been placed on suspension? There is an overrun, the quantum of which I do not know, but again, I stress the point that if there is an overrun the worst thing that comes out of it is that this government has spent more on renewable energy than it intended to.
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