❓ Opposition questions the cost of hiring oil-burning generators due to rising oil prices. Minister deflects, blaming previous government's pipeline privatisation for the need to use oil, partially answering one cost question.
AnsweredQoN 440Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the press release by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure of 10 August 2004 - a few days ago - which stated that amid predictions of long-term price hikes, the Gallop Government is already moving to reduce Western Australia’s dependence on oil. I further refer the minister to Western Power’s hire of four oil-burning generators from the United States and the conversion of existing units at Kwinana to burn oil, both to meet the summer electricity demand - as reported - and I ask - (1) What is the cost of renting the four turbines for Pinjar? (2) What is the estimated cost of running the hired units over the rental period? (3) Given the recent record oil prices of approximately $US45 a barrel, what is the total estimated cost of oil imports for Western Power to run its generators at Pinjar and Kwinana over a full financial year? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
(1) What is the cost of renting the four turbines for Pinjar? (2) What is the estimated cost of running the hired units over the rental period? (3) Given the recent record oil prices of approximately $US45 a barrel, what is the total estimated cost of oil imports for Western Power to run its generators at Pinjar and Kwinana over a full financial year? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
(2) What is the estimated cost of running the hired units over the rental period? (3) Given the recent record oil prices of approximately $US45 a barrel, what is the total estimated cost of oil imports for Western Power to run its generators at Pinjar and Kwinana over a full financial year? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
(3) Given the recent record oil prices of approximately $US45 a barrel, what is the total estimated cost of oil imports for Western Power to run its generators at Pinjar and Kwinana over a full financial year? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
(1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
(1) What is the cost of renting the four turbines for Pinjar? (2) What is the estimated cost of running the hired units over the rental period? (3) Given the recent record oil prices of approximately $US45 a barrel, what is the total estimated cost of oil imports for Western Power to run its generators at Pinjar and Kwinana over a full financial year? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
(2) What is the estimated cost of running the hired units over the rental period? (3) Given the recent record oil prices of approximately $US45 a barrel, what is the total estimated cost of oil imports for Western Power to run its generators at Pinjar and Kwinana over a full financial year? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
(3) Given the recent record oil prices of approximately $US45 a barrel, what is the total estimated cost of oil imports for Western Power to run its generators at Pinjar and Kwinana over a full financial year? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
(1)-(3) I am not surprised that the Leader of the Opposition does not want to mention the underlying factor that is creating the unprecedented circumstances to which Western Power must respond. As everyone knows, that underlying factor is the Leader of the Opposition’s privatisation of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. He sold the pipeline to a business that went broke, with no effective legal obligation for that pipeline to be expanded. Now he wonders, with the lack of expansion of that pipeline because the owner cannot afford to expand, why we must resort to an alternative fuel. He is just being a wrecker and a political opportunist on this matter. Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Hiring units from the United States - what a joke! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: If the Leader of the Opposition does not agree with the measures being taken by Western Power to ensure reliability of electricity supply this summer, what is his policy? If he does not agree with what Western Power is doing, what is his plan? I think the answer is that he has no plan. His only plan is to criticise, frustrate, complain and seek to politically exploit the difficulties. The Leader of the Opposition and his deputy must be the only two people in this State who want to see electricity blackouts this summer. The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
The answer to the question is that on the advice I have available to me from Western Power, it will cost $10.5 million to hire the gas turbines, plus $700 000 in internal costs. Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr C.J. Barnett: How much to run them? Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I do not have the other information that was sought by the Leader of the Opposition, because the Leader of the Opposition of course did not give any notice that he was seeking that level of detail. I did seek information on this matter, because it was predictable that the Leader of the Opposition might ask a question on this matter, and I have given the information that has been made available to me by Western Power. We are talking about generation capacity to meet peak demand. This capacity would be expected to operate for only a few hours a year. If it costs money to ensure the provision of an essential service - electricity - to the people of Western Australia, I support the spending of that money. The Government supports the spending of that money, and so should the Opposition in this Parliament. If the Opposition does not support the spending of this money to hire these units to provide security of supply, and if it does not put forward an alternative plan, I can conclude only that it is prepared to subject the community of Western Australia to an unreliable electricity supply.
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