❓ Opposition questions the adequacy of the government's $120 compensation for power outages, particularly in light of increasingly frequent and extreme weather events. The Minister defends the amount, highlighting its improvement over previous compensation and the challenges posed by climate change.
AnsweredQoN 743Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Power outages—Government relief
743. Mrs Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I have a
supplementary question. Does the government seriously believe that $120 is
adequate compensation in 2025?
743. Mrs Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I have a
supplementary question. Does the government seriously believe that $120 is
adequate compensation in 2025?
AnswerView source ↗
I will make the
point that it is significantly higher than what the member's government
provided and that we are in a time of extraordinary weather events. They are
more unpredictable and extreme. The weather event that we saw come through the
Mid West and the metropolitan area for those in the inner suburbs that were impacted—including
mine—was extreme and it came in hard and fast. Western Power had—
Mr Basil Zempilas: We've had those forever.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you may not
like the response you are getting from the minister but she is responding to
the question.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: I will respond to that
interjection. In an increasingly warming climate we are seeing more and more
extreme weather events. It is not true that we have always had—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: Western Power pre-deployed
crews across the state to support communities to re-energise. It is incredibly
challenging when we have these events but we work closely with all our
emergency services and agencies to make sure that communities get back online.
Of course, the number one priority is making the sites safe first. Community
safety is always the priority. The next priority is the important community
services: hospitals, aged care, schools and respite centres. We then work
through the process to ensure that those communities get back online.
The Speaker: That concludes question time.
point that it is significantly higher than what the member's government
provided and that we are in a time of extraordinary weather events. They are
more unpredictable and extreme. The weather event that we saw come through the
Mid West and the metropolitan area for those in the inner suburbs that were impacted—including
mine—was extreme and it came in hard and fast. Western Power had—
Mr Basil Zempilas: We've had those forever.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, you may not
like the response you are getting from the minister but she is responding to
the question.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: I will respond to that
interjection. In an increasingly warming climate we are seeing more and more
extreme weather events. It is not true that we have always had—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: Western Power pre-deployed
crews across the state to support communities to re-energise. It is incredibly
challenging when we have these events but we work closely with all our
emergency services and agencies to make sure that communities get back online.
Of course, the number one priority is making the sites safe first. Community
safety is always the priority. The next priority is the important community
services: hospitals, aged care, schools and respite centres. We then work
through the process to ensure that those communities get back online.
The Speaker: That concludes question time.
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