❓ Mr. Wyatt questions Premier Barnett on whether forecast revenue, debt levels, and the estimated surplus in the 2010-11 budget are predicated on a 22.3% increase in residential electricity bills. Premier Barnett avoids directly answering, instead criticising the previous Labor government's energy policies.
AnsweredQoN 271Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET 2010–11 — FORWARD ESTIMATES
I refer to the Premier’s comments in the house yesterday, when he said — The forward estimates are for the future years. They are out there in never–never land; we never, ever get there. (1) Are the forecast increases in revenue to the government from dividends paid by public utilities such as Western Power predicated on a 22.3 per cent or average $300 increase in residential electricity bills? (2) Are the forecast debt levels contained in the 2010–11 budget predicated on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? (3) Is the Premier’s estimated surplus of $652 million in 2011–12 based on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Premier’s comments in the house yesterday, when he said — The forward estimates are for the future years. They are out there in never–never land; we never, ever get there. (1) Are the forecast increases in revenue to the government from dividends paid by public utilities such as Western Power predicated on a 22.3 per cent or average $300 increase in residential electricity bills? (2) Are the forecast debt levels contained in the 2010–11 budget predicated on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? (3) Is the Premier’s estimated surplus of $652 million in 2011–12 based on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
(2) Are the forecast debt levels contained in the 2010–11 budget predicated on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? (3) Is the Premier’s estimated surplus of $652 million in 2011–12 based on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
(3) Is the Premier’s estimated surplus of $652 million in 2011–12 based on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
(1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
(2) Are the forecast debt levels contained in the 2010–11 budget predicated on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? (3) Is the Premier’s estimated surplus of $652 million in 2011–12 based on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
(3) Is the Premier’s estimated surplus of $652 million in 2011–12 based on a 22.3 per cent increase in residential electricity bills? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
(1)–(3) Let me again explain what forward estimates are. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It may come as a radical concept to members opposite, who are totally process driven and bureaucratically bound — Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : I did not ask the Premier to get up and talk about forward estimates again. Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Dr K.D. Hames : It’s his answer; not yours. Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr B.S. WYATT : Shush now, Deputy Premier! My question was in three parts and was very specific. I ask that you, Mr Speaker, direct the Premier to stop avoiding the question and answer the three parts that were specifically put to him. The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : On your point of order, member for Victoria Park, that is a reasonable request. I am looking forward to the answer, as I am sure you are. I cannot guarantee what the Premier is going to say. I do not have that amount of control in this place. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I thought the member for Victoria Park had grasped the concept of forward estimates, but clearly he has not. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : I thought I had, too, but you have a very different definition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The question related to electricity tariffs. Mr Speaker, if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to read two very brief comments. The first is a review from the Office of Energy. In January 2009, the Office of Energy completed a review of electricity arrangements as part of the electricity retail market review. A previous draft review was released under Labor in April 2008. In April 2008, the Labor Party was in government; they were sad days. The April 2008 draft recommended a cumulative 72 per cent increase in electricity prices over three years. Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : And thank God we didn’t do it! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members must remember that this was reform under the Labor government that was going to bring down electricity prices. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : The point of order I raise now is similar to the one I raised previously. Yesterday the Premier sought to avoid answering this question. Again, my question was in three parts and was very specific. It was about whether the forward estimates in his budget are predicated on that 22.3 per cent increase. It is very simple and I ask that you, Mr Speaker, again direct the Premier to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : I am convinced, member for Victoria Park, that the explanation that the Premier is giving at the moment will lead to the answer to the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : In terms of electricity prices, which is the subject of the question, under the Labor Party, which reformed the electricity market to bring down electricity prices, the legacy was that, according to a report released during its time in government, a 72 per cent increase was required. That is the most stunning failure of public policy in Western Australia’s history, bar one exception—WA Inc, which was caused by another Labor government and left us with a debt of three quarters of a billion dollars. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Armadale, the doorknocker, who is out there using Western Australian taxpayers’ funds — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier is not dealing with the question, and I remind you, Mr Speaker, of standing order 78. The member for Victoria Park did not ask the Premier anything to do with the member for Armadale. I ask him to go back to the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Premier was responding to an interjection by the member for Armadale, and I think that has been fair game in this house for many years. The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : Premier, I urge you to return to the question that was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will need to protect me, Mr Speaker, from the member for Armadale! Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, member for Midland. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The starting point was that, according to a report released under the Labor government, a 72 per cent increase was required. The response of the Labor Party was to have a — Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : When are you going to answer the three questions that I put to you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am attempting to answer the member’s question, and if he would give me a smidgin of courtesy, he would hear the answer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : An increase of 72 per cent was the starting point. The previous Labor government adopted what it called the glide path—more like a crash path—whereby it was going to deliberately conceal the reality from the public of Western Australia by talking about a community service obligation. It was a subsidy to try to conceal the loss. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, I am not enjoying continually getting to my feet to make points of order. As members know I asked the Premier three specific questions. I did not ask him about the CSO payments that were in the 2008–09 budget of the former Labor government. I asked him three specific questions and, Mr Speaker, I ask you again, now that we are some eight minutes into his answer, that you ask him to return to answering those questions. Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Further to the point of order, the standing orders in relation to a question clearly state what it should contain. It is an area that is breached by the opposition every single day. The single line that relates to an answer to a question states — An answer must be relevant to the question . Mr B.S. Wyatt : It must be the answer to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it states that it must be relevant — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The SPEAKER : If members in this place do not want to listen to points of order from members on either side, it is a little disappointing. Minister for Health, I am having difficulty hearing your point of order. I think I understand it and I will ask the Premier to return to the questions asked. All I can instruct the member for Victoria Park is that when a question is asked, an answer is given and sometimes it is not the answer the member asking the question wants to hear. People in this place know that is how it works. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : What I was attempting to do was to give the background of electricity price increases; that is, what Labor failed to do. This government, having inherited the position, took it on. It confronted the issue. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do not let me go back to the Labor government’s history on finance. In this government’s first year it increased electricity prices by 10 per cent, plus 15 per cent, which was a big increase. This year electricity prices have been increased by 7.5 per cent, plus 10 per cent. That does not get us to full cost recovery. However, it is taking the issue on and dealing with it up-front. It may be unpopular, but it is honest. I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
I do not underestimate the intelligence of the people of Western Australia. They were not fooled by the Labor government’s approach. They knew it was concealing the problem. They know that this government has at least had the honesty and integrity to deal with the problem. That is the difference between this side of politics and the opposition side. On the opposition side, concealment and half truths; on this side, deal with the issue and deal with it openly. The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
The forward estimates are Treasury’s projection. They are a projection based without any policy decisions. The budget is an annual event. Treasury has in its forward estimates put in a 22 per cent increase. I made it clear on presenting the budget that there will not be an increase anywhere near that scale next year or in subsequent years, because it is a policy decision of this government. It made a policy decision that two years of big increases is as much as the government thinks the Western Australian public can or should bear. It is sharing the burden. I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
I refer members to a note on page 233 of budget paper No 3, which they should have read. This is from Treasury not the government. It states — Department of Treasury and Finance budget planning assumptions only for 2011–12 onwards. The State Government has not yet made any explicit electricity tariff decision beyond 1 July 2010. In other words, they are simply projections forward of a financial nature. They reflect no decision of this government. I say once again: there will be no 22.3 per cent increase in electricity next year—nothing like it.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.