❓ Question regarding power outages due to pole-top fires and investment restrictions on Western Power. Minister responds by deflecting blame to the previous government, highlighting past fire statistics, and outlining current efforts to address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 184Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the recent spate of pole-top fires that affected power supplies to more than 10 000 homes in the metropolitan area this month and only this week caused numerous lengthy power outages in the wheatbelt and mid west regions. (1) Does the minister agree with the Director of Energy Safety that the lack of preventive maintenance and new power infrastructure has led to this unacceptable level of power disruptions? (2) Given that the Government’s costly plan to break up Western Power is no longer proceeding, will the minister now lift the investment restrictions he placed on the utility so that vital transmission system upgrades and maintenance can proceed? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
(1) Does the minister agree with the Director of Energy Safety that the lack of preventive maintenance and new power infrastructure has led to this unacceptable level of power disruptions? (2) Given that the Government’s costly plan to break up Western Power is no longer proceeding, will the minister now lift the investment restrictions he placed on the utility so that vital transmission system upgrades and maintenance can proceed? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
(2) Given that the Government’s costly plan to break up Western Power is no longer proceeding, will the minister now lift the investment restrictions he placed on the utility so that vital transmission system upgrades and maintenance can proceed? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
(1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
(1) Does the minister agree with the Director of Energy Safety that the lack of preventive maintenance and new power infrastructure has led to this unacceptable level of power disruptions? (2) Given that the Government’s costly plan to break up Western Power is no longer proceeding, will the minister now lift the investment restrictions he placed on the utility so that vital transmission system upgrades and maintenance can proceed? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
(2) Given that the Government’s costly plan to break up Western Power is no longer proceeding, will the minister now lift the investment restrictions he placed on the utility so that vital transmission system upgrades and maintenance can proceed? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
(1)-(2) At last the shadow Minister for Energy has asked me a question. I have been lobbying him for days to get some priority for his questions to me. The question of pole-top fires is an interesting one. It came to light in a public way because this Government gazetted the technical and safety regulations for the electricity supply industry, a matter that had been sitting on the Leader of the Opposition’s desk for five years when we came to power. By gazetting those regulations, we gave the Director of Energy Safety a role as the regulator to hold Western Power accountable. The Leader of the Opposition, when he was Minister for Energy, was in the pocket of David Eiszele, the managing director at that time of Western Power - Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Dr G.I. Gallop: Captured. Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: He was captured in the pocket of David Eiszele, who said to him, “Don’t do this, minister; we don’t want to be publicly exposed to this sort of scrutiny.” I rejected that argument from Western Power and gave the Director of Energy Safety the right to hold Western Power publicly accountable for these sorts of matters. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: When? Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: At the beginning of 2002. In January 2002. Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr J.L. Bradshaw: Why has it taken you until today to say something? Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Murray-Wellington appears to believe that pole-top fires are a recent development. Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Never like this. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Never like this, says the Leader of the Opposition. Let us have a look at the figures. In the financial year 1994-95 there were 532 pole-top fires; in 1995-96 there were 560; in 1996-97 there were 693; in 1997-98 there were 632; in 1998-99 it dropped to 393; in 1999-2000 there were 331; in 2000-01, when we must hold the Leader of the Opposition responsible because he was responsible for the strategic development plan and all the arrangements in Western Power, there were 671 pole-top fires; in 2001-02 there were 339; in 2002-03 - not a good year - there were 635; and so far this year there have been 424. The annual average of pole-top fires from 1994-95 to 2000-01 was 530, and the annual average in the last three years was 466. There are too many pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety that more needs to be done to reduce the incidence of pole-top fires, which are disrupting the reliability of electricity supply to Western Power’s customers. I do not agree with the Director of Energy Safety that Western Power is not working on this issue. Western Power is working on this issue. However, its work needs to be more effective and intensive. There needs to be a reduction in pole-top fires. I agree with the Director of Energy Safety on that, but I do not agree that Western Power is not working on the issue. In particular, Western Power has been trialling a new method of silicon coating electrical equipment, which at the end of the trials is proving to be a very successful way of preventing pole-top fires. We will see more of that in the future as a result of the trial, but we would not have know about this issue if the Leader of the Opposition and David Eiszele had had their way and continued right through until now. The Government knows about this issue because I was not in the pocket of David Eiszele and I did not agree to cover up this issue.
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