❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Energy regarding the legal responsibility of private power pole owners for maintenance. The Minister refutes Johnston's claim, stating owners are responsible for pole condition, though not required to have inspections.
AnsweredQoN 34Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
''ARE YOU BUSHFIRE READY?'' CAMPAIGN —
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34. Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. Why is it that private power
pole owners have no legal responsibility to maintain their poles?
CHECKLIST
34. Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. Why is it that private power
pole owners have no legal responsibility to maintain their poles?
AnswerView source ↗
The member for Cannington made an authoritative statement,
but it is wrong as usual. As the member would have read in the paper and as the
member should know given his shadow portfolio—he should do a little bit
of investigation before he makes statements like that —
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington!
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is very interesting, member for Cannington.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first and
second time today.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The member for Cannington's question was really a
statement that private owners are not responsible for their power poles—they
are. If the member even read The West Australian ,
he would have realised that EnergySafety made it quite clear that private
owners have a responsibility to maintain the quality of their poles.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : It is your own department!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : EnergySafety is not under me. It is actually under the Minister
for Commerce, not the Minister for Energy. It was set up separately by the
Labor Party. Going back: do private pole owners have a responsibility to
maintain the safety of their poles? Yes.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
Up to the meter box?
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Yes, and it depends where the meter box is. They have a responsibility. Are
they required to have them inspected? No. There is no regulation that they have
to inspect them, but the laws are that they are responsible for the condition
of the poles and the effect of their poles not being in adequate positions.
This has been made quite clear in the press. If the member, in his shadow
portfolio, had contacted EnergySafety, he would have found out about it. He
therefore would have misled the house if he made a declaratory statement that
they have no responsibility.
but it is wrong as usual. As the member would have read in the paper and as the
member should know given his shadow portfolio—he should do a little bit
of investigation before he makes statements like that —
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington!
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is very interesting, member for Cannington.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first and
second time today.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The member for Cannington's question was really a
statement that private owners are not responsible for their power poles—they
are. If the member even read The West Australian ,
he would have realised that EnergySafety made it quite clear that private
owners have a responsibility to maintain the quality of their poles.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : It is your own department!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : EnergySafety is not under me. It is actually under the Minister
for Commerce, not the Minister for Energy. It was set up separately by the
Labor Party. Going back: do private pole owners have a responsibility to
maintain the safety of their poles? Yes.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
Up to the meter box?
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
Yes, and it depends where the meter box is. They have a responsibility. Are
they required to have them inspected? No. There is no regulation that they have
to inspect them, but the laws are that they are responsible for the condition
of the poles and the effect of their poles not being in adequate positions.
This has been made quite clear in the press. If the member, in his shadow
portfolio, had contacted EnergySafety, he would have found out about it. He
therefore would have misled the house if he made a declaratory statement that
they have no responsibility.
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