❓ Mr. Redman questions the Minister for Water Resources on increasing water recycling in Perth, given the disparity with regional WA and the ocean disposal of treated wastewater. The Minister acknowledges the need for more action, citing cost factors and ongoing projects like the Kwinana plant expansion and managed aquifer recharge.
AnsweredQoN 291Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER RECYCLING
Given that the rate of water recycling in regional Western Australia is about 40 per cent and that 100 gigalitres of treated waste water is released into the ocean from Perth each year, with only six gigalitres being reused by industry in Kwinana, I ask - (1) Will the minister acknowledge that the state government must do more to increase the rate of water recycling in the city to compare favourably with the rate in country WA? (2) Why does the rate compare so poorly? (3) What is the minister’s commitment to recycling this water for domestic, commercial and industrial use in the city rather than drawing water from the south west Yarragadee aquifer to supply Perth’s water needs? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
Given that the rate of water recycling in regional Western Australia is about 40 per cent and that 100 gigalitres of treated waste water is released into the ocean from Perth each year, with only six gigalitres being reused by industry in Kwinana, I ask - (1) Will the minister acknowledge that the state government must do more to increase the rate of water recycling in the city to compare favourably with the rate in country WA? (2) Why does the rate compare so poorly? (3) What is the minister’s commitment to recycling this water for domestic, commercial and industrial use in the city rather than drawing water from the south west Yarragadee aquifer to supply Perth’s water needs? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
(1) Will the minister acknowledge that the state government must do more to increase the rate of water recycling in the city to compare favourably with the rate in country WA? (2) Why does the rate compare so poorly? (3) What is the minister’s commitment to recycling this water for domestic, commercial and industrial use in the city rather than drawing water from the south west Yarragadee aquifer to supply Perth’s water needs? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
(2) Why does the rate compare so poorly? (3) What is the minister’s commitment to recycling this water for domestic, commercial and industrial use in the city rather than drawing water from the south west Yarragadee aquifer to supply Perth’s water needs? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
(3) What is the minister’s commitment to recycling this water for domestic, commercial and industrial use in the city rather than drawing water from the south west Yarragadee aquifer to supply Perth’s water needs? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
(1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
[Applause.]
(1) Will the minister acknowledge that the state government must do more to increase the rate of water recycling in the city to compare favourably with the rate in country WA? (2) Why does the rate compare so poorly? (3) What is the minister’s commitment to recycling this water for domestic, commercial and industrial use in the city rather than drawing water from the south west Yarragadee aquifer to supply Perth’s water needs? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
(2) Why does the rate compare so poorly? (3) What is the minister’s commitment to recycling this water for domestic, commercial and industrial use in the city rather than drawing water from the south west Yarragadee aquifer to supply Perth’s water needs? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
(3) What is the minister’s commitment to recycling this water for domestic, commercial and industrial use in the city rather than drawing water from the south west Yarragadee aquifer to supply Perth’s water needs? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
(1)-(3) I will start with the last question. The government is doing a great deal and there is still more to be done. It has already constructed the Kwinana waste-water recycling plant, which takes water from the sewerage system. Rather than that water being pumped into the ocean outfall, it is taken up by industry. Money is allocated in this budget to expand that recycling plant. The government has also committed money into managed aquifer recharge. Again, the treated sewage water will be added to the ground water to increase our capacity to use that ground water. Additional money has been allocated in this budget for that project. That project requires a fairly long lead time because until we can show scientifically that it will be useable and will have no adverse effects on the environment or our health, we will not commit to a major plant. The member quite rightly points out that a very high rate of water recycling is done in the country. That occurs because it pays to do that. The abundance of ground water on the Perth coastal plain means that cheap water is available that is not generally available in many regional areas. We must compare the cost of providing that water, which is waste water, in country towns with the cost of supplying water from the abundant supply of ground water here in Perth. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member for Stirling is genuinely interested in the answer to this question, but some other members obviously are not. The government pays well in excess of $200 million a year in community service orders to subsidise water and sewerage in country areas. That changes the economics. We are not paying that subsidy in metropolitan Perth; therefore, it pays to use the cheaper ground water rather than subsidise it as we do in country areas. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
Before the supplementary question is asked, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of a guest to Western Australia, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. [Applause.]
[Applause.]
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