❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier about the promised support package for businesses affected by power outages in the Goldfields, Wheatbelt, and Hills, noting delays. The Premier acknowledges the disruption, highlights the rapid restoration of power, and states the Minister for Energy is exploring further assistance options, while emphasizing the role of insurance.
AnsweredQoN 97Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY
— OUTAGES — SUPPORT PACKAGE
97. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the government's commitment to provide a support
package to businesses impacted by long and costly power outages in the
goldfields, wheatbelt and hills areas. Noting that these outages and that
commitment are now over a month old, and that this was to be considered by
cabinet in January, when can businesses that sustained up to $100 000 in losses
finally expect to see the support that was promised?
— OUTAGES — SUPPORT PACKAGE
97. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the government's commitment to provide a support
package to businesses impacted by long and costly power outages in the
goldfields, wheatbelt and hills areas. Noting that these outages and that
commitment are now over a month old, and that this was to be considered by
cabinet in January, when can businesses that sustained up to $100 000 in losses
finally expect to see the support that was promised?
AnswerView source ↗
I remind the member that we doubled the extended outage
payment scheme to acknowledge the fact that this was a particularly disruptive
outage caused by severe and highly unusual weather events. In the instance of
the main transmission line to Kalgoorlie, this weather event took out five of
the high-tension towers. The last time one of those towers was taken out by a weather
event was 35 years ago, and it was one tower. At the time, we obviously wanted
to make sure that it would not take the seven days that Western Power predicted
it would take to repair the transmission line. We are very proud of the fact
that almost within 24 hours the people of the goldfields were able to receive
power again. That was a great outcome. But we acknowledge that it was difficult
for them, as it was for people in the hills who, too, were impacted by a very
unusual and severe weather event, as well as folk in the wheatbelt. These
difficult situations were highly unique and unusual.
I asked the Minister for Energy to look at what other
assistance or future assistance we could provide. This was not meant to replace
people's costs. We understand that we simply cannot replace people's
takings for the day or go to the full extent of people's overall
losses. That is why people take out insurance. My understanding is that, in the vast majority of cases, people have been
served well by insurance payouts, as we would expect them to be. The Minister for Energy continues to look at the options to see what we can bring to
bear.
payment scheme to acknowledge the fact that this was a particularly disruptive
outage caused by severe and highly unusual weather events. In the instance of
the main transmission line to Kalgoorlie, this weather event took out five of
the high-tension towers. The last time one of those towers was taken out by a weather
event was 35 years ago, and it was one tower. At the time, we obviously wanted
to make sure that it would not take the seven days that Western Power predicted
it would take to repair the transmission line. We are very proud of the fact
that almost within 24 hours the people of the goldfields were able to receive
power again. That was a great outcome. But we acknowledge that it was difficult
for them, as it was for people in the hills who, too, were impacted by a very
unusual and severe weather event, as well as folk in the wheatbelt. These
difficult situations were highly unique and unusual.
I asked the Minister for Energy to look at what other
assistance or future assistance we could provide. This was not meant to replace
people's costs. We understand that we simply cannot replace people's
takings for the day or go to the full extent of people's overall
losses. That is why people take out insurance. My understanding is that, in the vast majority of cases, people have been
served well by insurance payouts, as we would expect them to be. The Minister for Energy continues to look at the options to see what we can bring to
bear.
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