❓ Hon. Bruce Donaldson questions the Minister for Government Enterprises about potential environmental levies for the proposed desalination plant, given the Water Corporation's profits and budget surplus. The Minister denies any current proposal for such a levy but indicates the Economic Regulation Authority is reviewing cost recovery options.
AnsweredQoN 760Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Given the substantial profit announced by the Water Corporation from its operations and the substantial budget surplus, will the minister confirm to the House that no environmental levy, fee or tax will be imposed on Water Corporation customers to pay for the proposed desalination plant? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for his question. There is no proposal for a levy, tax or anything of that nature. Frankly, the language used in that regard is very much a furphy. Hon Norman Moore: That is what the Premier said. Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. There is no proposal for a levy, tax or anything of that nature. Frankly, the language used in that regard is very much a furphy. Hon Norman Moore: That is what the Premier said. Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
I thank the honourable member for his question. There is no proposal for a levy, tax or anything of that nature. Frankly, the language used in that regard is very much a furphy. Hon Norman Moore: That is what the Premier said. Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon Norman Moore: That is what the Premier said. Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the honourable member for his question. There is no proposal for a levy, tax or anything of that nature. Frankly, the language used in that regard is very much a furphy. Hon Norman Moore: That is what the Premier said. Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
I thank the honourable member for his question. There is no proposal for a levy, tax or anything of that nature. Frankly, the language used in that regard is very much a furphy. Hon Norman Moore: That is what the Premier said. Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon Norman Moore: That is what the Premier said. Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon Kim Chance: No, he didn’t. He specifically denied it. Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon Norman Moore: Of course he denied it. The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
The PRESIDENT: Order! Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS: I will wait for the debate to finish before I continue my answer. Cabinet has made a decision on desalination pricing. It has asked the Economic Regulation Authority to consider this issue and recommend the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant, as part of its current water pricing review. The Government will make a final decision on water pricing and the most appropriate structure of cost recovery for a desalination plant as part of the 2006-07 budget process, following the outcome of the ERA’s report.
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