❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister for Water on the potential impact of the Treasurer's decision against adopting a 50% renewable energy target on WA's water supply, and whether this is linked to union pressure. The Minister deflects, criticising the previous government's climate change denial and highlighting current water conservation efforts.
AnsweredQoN 995Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COST OF LIVING —
FEDERAL LABOR POLICY —RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET — WATER SUPPLY
995. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Water:
My question is to the Minister for
Water —
Several members interjected.
Dr D.J. HONEY : He comes from
an excellent period of graduates at the University of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Members, please.
I am sure we are all waiting to hear this.
Dr D.J. HONEY : With bated
breath. I refer to the article in Saturday's The West Australian in which the minister highlighted that the
cabinet and caucus are keen to take serious action on climate change. Can the
minister outline to the house how the Treasurer's decision not to adopt
federal Labor's 50 per cent renewable energy target could impact Western
Australia's water supply; and is this the reason that the unions want
him stripped of the energy portfolio?
Point of Order
Mr D.A.
TEMPLEMAN : The question is clearly not to the portfolio of the
minister to which it was directed.
The
SPEAKER : It could impact on Water, but it is drawing a pretty long
bow. I will let the minister answer the question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
FEDERAL LABOR POLICY —RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET — WATER SUPPLY
995. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Water:
My question is to the Minister for
Water —
Several members interjected.
Dr D.J. HONEY : He comes from
an excellent period of graduates at the University of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER : Members, please.
I am sure we are all waiting to hear this.
Dr D.J. HONEY : With bated
breath. I refer to the article in Saturday's The West Australian in which the minister highlighted that the
cabinet and caucus are keen to take serious action on climate change. Can the
minister outline to the house how the Treasurer's decision not to adopt
federal Labor's 50 per cent renewable energy target could impact Western
Australia's water supply; and is this the reason that the unions want
him stripped of the energy portfolio?
Point of Order
Mr D.A.
TEMPLEMAN : The question is clearly not to the portfolio of the
minister to which it was directed.
The
SPEAKER : It could impact on Water, but it is drawing a pretty long
bow. I will let the minister answer the question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
AnswerView source ↗
To be perfectly honest, I do not
really understand the question that the member for Cottesloe is asking. We on
this side of the house understand that climate change is having a very
significant impact on water supplies here in Western Australia. Under the
previous government, departments were not allowed to mention ''climate
change''. None of the publications even acknowledged that climate change
existed. When the Leader of the National Party was Minister for Water, she
claimed to have drought-proofed Perth. Do members remember that? Just when we
thought that was just a bit of National Party folly, the current Leader of the
Opposition, when he was Treasurer, included that in one of his budget speeches.
Job done! ''Climate change no longer exists. We have drought-proofed
Perth.'' We have a very considered policy over here. We understand that
climate change is having a very significant impact on our water supply. That is
one of the reasons that in the last budget we increased the rate of payments
for water users who use more than 500 kilolitres. The top seven per cent of
users in Western Australia use 17 per cent of water. With applause from the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, we sent a price signal
to those high users. We on this side take this issue very seriously. If the
member for Cottesloe has a question about energy policy, he should direct it to
the relevant minister.
really understand the question that the member for Cottesloe is asking. We on
this side of the house understand that climate change is having a very
significant impact on water supplies here in Western Australia. Under the
previous government, departments were not allowed to mention ''climate
change''. None of the publications even acknowledged that climate change
existed. When the Leader of the National Party was Minister for Water, she
claimed to have drought-proofed Perth. Do members remember that? Just when we
thought that was just a bit of National Party folly, the current Leader of the
Opposition, when he was Treasurer, included that in one of his budget speeches.
Job done! ''Climate change no longer exists. We have drought-proofed
Perth.'' We have a very considered policy over here. We understand that
climate change is having a very significant impact on our water supply. That is
one of the reasons that in the last budget we increased the rate of payments
for water users who use more than 500 kilolitres. The top seven per cent of
users in Western Australia use 17 per cent of water. With applause from the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, we sent a price signal
to those high users. We on this side take this issue very seriously. If the
member for Cottesloe has a question about energy policy, he should direct it to
the relevant minister.
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