❓ Premier responds to questions about cost-of-living relief and clean energy, highlighting electricity credits and grid investments for renewable energy transition and coal-fired power station retirement by 2030.
AnsweredQoN 913Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENERGY — COST-OF-LIVING RELIEF
913. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Premier:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to reducing the cost of
living and keeping electricity bills affordable.
(1) Can the
Premier update the house as to how this government is supporting households
feeling the cost-of-living pressures leading to the festive season?
(2) Can the
Premier outline how this government will supply Western Australians with clean,
reliable and affordable energy for generations to come?
913. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Premier:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to reducing the cost of
living and keeping electricity bills affordable.
(1) Can the
Premier update the house as to how this government is supporting households
feeling the cost-of-living pressures leading to the festive season?
(2) Can the
Premier outline how this government will supply Western Australians with clean,
reliable and affordable energy for generations to come?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) As members would know, my fundamental priority is
to keep the economy strong and help those who are doing it tough. The
issues that many members of the community face today are an example of the
opportunity that we have to assist people with the cost of living. It does not
matter whether it is in relation to interest
rates or other cost-of-living pressures. We know that people in the community
are doing it tough. Last week was a scorcher; it was a hot week. Air
conditioners would have been cranked up. We know that there are pressures on
people's power bills as well. That is why it was wonderful to visit
Jeanette and Lindsay McLeod on Sunday afternoon to talk to them about the next
stage of our cost-of-living initiatives, which is the second stage of our
household electricity credits. More than 1.1 million households will benefit from the $400 household electricity
credit. The first instalment of $200 was delivered in July. I am very
pleased to say that from 1 December, $200 will be taken off every household's
electricity account. There is no better time for it. Not only is it hot, but
Christmas is coming. As Jeanette McLeod said, and I was really impressed with
this, ''Being able to direct that $200 away from my Synergy bill towards
my six grandchildren—that is an absolute bonus because that is where it
should be going.'' I love that sentiment. We want grandkids and every
kid in Western Australia to have an extra special Christmas this year by
benefiting from the $200 household electricity credit. As Minister Johnston
recently explained, last week, our electricity demand hit its peak. A record 4 037
megawatts of generation demand came onto the grid. I want to commend the
minister and his team for making sure that the grid was able to deliver for Western
Australian consumers.
Last
week, at the energy transition summit, I announced an investment of $708 million
towards expanding and improving WA's main electricity grid. This
is the biggest investment in the south west grid in over 10 years. Of this investment, $575 million will
build high-capacity lines between Perth and Three Springs , a new 330-kilovolt double circuit transmission
line between Malaga and Pinjar and new 132-kilovolt lines , and reinforce
our existing infrastructure in the northern suburbs. If any members want to
know what I said just then, do not ask me; talk to the Minister for Energy!
Why is this investment in the
connected system necessary? It is because it is fundamental to harnessing
renewable energy and ensuring that we can go on a clean renewable energy
transition. With wind and solar that are the envy of the world, the midwest
region has the capacity to propel WA to become a global leader in clean energy
solutions. The upgrades to the grid mean that we can draw upon that huge wealth
of renewable energy potential in the midwest and make sure that we can
decarbonise our south west grid and make our
way forward to retire our coal-fired power stations by 2030. We are the only
state in Australia that will retire all its coal-fired power stations by
2030. It is a challenge and an opportunity of which we are very proud.
There were further investments
towards planning and early works in procurement of long-lead items for the next
stages of the south west grid upgrade. It includes outcomes such as upgrades
that will allow us to bring renewable energy
into the industry hubs in Kwinana and Collie. These are all important
investment and planning opportunities to make sure we can take Western Australia
on a clean energy future, because at the end of the day, we want Western Australians
to enjoy clean, affordable, sustainable electricity so we can continue to enjoy
the standard of living we have today.
Visitors — North
Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils
The SPEAKER : Before I give
the call to the Leader of the Liberal Party, on behalf of the member for
Central Wheatbelt, I would like to welcome a delegation from the North Eastern
Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils, otherwise known as NEWROC, who are
in the public gallery. Welcome to Parliament today.
to keep the economy strong and help those who are doing it tough. The
issues that many members of the community face today are an example of the
opportunity that we have to assist people with the cost of living. It does not
matter whether it is in relation to interest
rates or other cost-of-living pressures. We know that people in the community
are doing it tough. Last week was a scorcher; it was a hot week. Air
conditioners would have been cranked up. We know that there are pressures on
people's power bills as well. That is why it was wonderful to visit
Jeanette and Lindsay McLeod on Sunday afternoon to talk to them about the next
stage of our cost-of-living initiatives, which is the second stage of our
household electricity credits. More than 1.1 million households will benefit from the $400 household electricity
credit. The first instalment of $200 was delivered in July. I am very
pleased to say that from 1 December, $200 will be taken off every household's
electricity account. There is no better time for it. Not only is it hot, but
Christmas is coming. As Jeanette McLeod said, and I was really impressed with
this, ''Being able to direct that $200 away from my Synergy bill towards
my six grandchildren—that is an absolute bonus because that is where it
should be going.'' I love that sentiment. We want grandkids and every
kid in Western Australia to have an extra special Christmas this year by
benefiting from the $200 household electricity credit. As Minister Johnston
recently explained, last week, our electricity demand hit its peak. A record 4 037
megawatts of generation demand came onto the grid. I want to commend the
minister and his team for making sure that the grid was able to deliver for Western
Australian consumers.
Last
week, at the energy transition summit, I announced an investment of $708 million
towards expanding and improving WA's main electricity grid. This
is the biggest investment in the south west grid in over 10 years. Of this investment, $575 million will
build high-capacity lines between Perth and Three Springs , a new 330-kilovolt double circuit transmission
line between Malaga and Pinjar and new 132-kilovolt lines , and reinforce
our existing infrastructure in the northern suburbs. If any members want to
know what I said just then, do not ask me; talk to the Minister for Energy!
Why is this investment in the
connected system necessary? It is because it is fundamental to harnessing
renewable energy and ensuring that we can go on a clean renewable energy
transition. With wind and solar that are the envy of the world, the midwest
region has the capacity to propel WA to become a global leader in clean energy
solutions. The upgrades to the grid mean that we can draw upon that huge wealth
of renewable energy potential in the midwest and make sure that we can
decarbonise our south west grid and make our
way forward to retire our coal-fired power stations by 2030. We are the only
state in Australia that will retire all its coal-fired power stations by
2030. It is a challenge and an opportunity of which we are very proud.
There were further investments
towards planning and early works in procurement of long-lead items for the next
stages of the south west grid upgrade. It includes outcomes such as upgrades
that will allow us to bring renewable energy
into the industry hubs in Kwinana and Collie. These are all important
investment and planning opportunities to make sure we can take Western Australia
on a clean energy future, because at the end of the day, we want Western Australians
to enjoy clean, affordable, sustainable electricity so we can continue to enjoy
the standard of living we have today.
Visitors — North
Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils
The SPEAKER : Before I give
the call to the Leader of the Liberal Party, on behalf of the member for
Central Wheatbelt, I would like to welcome a delegation from the North Eastern
Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils, otherwise known as NEWROC, who are
in the public gallery. Welcome to Parliament today.
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