❓ Mr. Nalder questions the Premier's refusal to allow small businesses the same electricity competition access as larger businesses. The Premier defends the policy, accusing the opposition of planning to privatise electricity assets and increase prices.
AnsweredQoN 905Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY PRICES
905. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Why
is the Premier refusing to let small business access competition that big
business can access; is that not simply unfair?
905. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Why
is the Premier refusing to let small business access competition that big
business can access; is that not simply unfair?
AnswerView source ↗
I
have answered the member's question. For the member's brief
period as a minister, before he challenged the former Premier and went
to the back bench, he did not do it. The reason that he did not do it is for
the reasons I have just said; I have explained it to him.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton!
Mr M. McGOWAN : If the member
does what he says he will do, he will increase prices for ordinary consumers, and especially for people in the regions. That is
not our policy. This is a prelude to the Liberal Party privatising t he
electricity assets of the state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Members
on my left!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Have a look at New
South Wales. New South Wales has done this: it has privatised its assets .
What has happened? Prices have gone up.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Prices are
higher in New South Wales than they are here and, despite the sale of the
assets that that member wants to do, New
South Wales' debt is skyrocketing. The Liberal Party's plan may
well be to sell off the assets, but unless it has proper financial
management like this government has put in place, it will have skyrocketing
debt like those other states that have done so.
have answered the member's question. For the member's brief
period as a minister, before he challenged the former Premier and went
to the back bench, he did not do it. The reason that he did not do it is for
the reasons I have just said; I have explained it to him.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton!
Mr M. McGOWAN : If the member
does what he says he will do, he will increase prices for ordinary consumers, and especially for people in the regions. That is
not our policy. This is a prelude to the Liberal Party privatising t he
electricity assets of the state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Members
on my left!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Have a look at New
South Wales. New South Wales has done this: it has privatised its assets .
What has happened? Prices have gone up.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Prices are
higher in New South Wales than they are here and, despite the sale of the
assets that that member wants to do, New
South Wales' debt is skyrocketing. The Liberal Party's plan may
well be to sell off the assets, but unless it has proper financial
management like this government has put in place, it will have skyrocketing
debt like those other states that have done so.
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