❓ Question regarding the WA government's response to gas supply disruptions following the Varanus Island explosion and the policies guiding their actions. The Premier's answer focuses on industry collaboration and existing emergency powers, without directly addressing specific policy documents.
AnsweredQoN 267Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
APACHE ENERGY GAS PLANT EXPLOSION — POLICY ON GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO MAJOR EVENTS
Given the obvious disruptions to Western Australia’s gas supplies that occurred firstly in January this year and the subsequent significant disruptions to supplies caused by last week’s explosion and fire at Varanus Island, I ask — (1) Which specific policy, protocol or plan guides the government’s response to these major disruptions? (2) How was the government’s response to last week’s explosion guided—if at all—by the government’s April 2007 document “Western Australia Critical Infrastructure Protection Framework”, which apparently focuses not only on protecting infrastructure from a terrorist attack, but also considers security supply and business continuity issues? (3) How prepared is the government to deal with another major disruption to critical supplies of energy given that these emergencies appear to occur more regularly than the once-in-25-years assertion previously made by the discredited Minister for Energy in April this year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Given the obvious disruptions to Western Australia’s gas supplies that occurred firstly in January this year and the subsequent significant disruptions to supplies caused by last week’s explosion and fire at Varanus Island, I ask — (1) Which specific policy, protocol or plan guides the government’s response to these major disruptions? (2) How was the government’s response to last week’s explosion guided—if at all—by the government’s April 2007 document “Western Australia Critical Infrastructure Protection Framework”, which apparently focuses not only on protecting infrastructure from a terrorist attack, but also considers security supply and business continuity issues? (3) How prepared is the government to deal with another major disruption to critical supplies of energy given that these emergencies appear to occur more regularly than the once-in-25-years assertion previously made by the discredited Minister for Energy in April this year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
(1) Which specific policy, protocol or plan guides the government’s response to these major disruptions? (2) How was the government’s response to last week’s explosion guided—if at all—by the government’s April 2007 document “Western Australia Critical Infrastructure Protection Framework”, which apparently focuses not only on protecting infrastructure from a terrorist attack, but also considers security supply and business continuity issues? (3) How prepared is the government to deal with another major disruption to critical supplies of energy given that these emergencies appear to occur more regularly than the once-in-25-years assertion previously made by the discredited Minister for Energy in April this year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
(2) How was the government’s response to last week’s explosion guided—if at all—by the government’s April 2007 document “Western Australia Critical Infrastructure Protection Framework”, which apparently focuses not only on protecting infrastructure from a terrorist attack, but also considers security supply and business continuity issues? (3) How prepared is the government to deal with another major disruption to critical supplies of energy given that these emergencies appear to occur more regularly than the once-in-25-years assertion previously made by the discredited Minister for Energy in April this year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
(3) How prepared is the government to deal with another major disruption to critical supplies of energy given that these emergencies appear to occur more regularly than the once-in-25-years assertion previously made by the discredited Minister for Energy in April this year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
(1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process —
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
(1) Which specific policy, protocol or plan guides the government’s response to these major disruptions? (2) How was the government’s response to last week’s explosion guided—if at all—by the government’s April 2007 document “Western Australia Critical Infrastructure Protection Framework”, which apparently focuses not only on protecting infrastructure from a terrorist attack, but also considers security supply and business continuity issues? (3) How prepared is the government to deal with another major disruption to critical supplies of energy given that these emergencies appear to occur more regularly than the once-in-25-years assertion previously made by the discredited Minister for Energy in April this year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
(2) How was the government’s response to last week’s explosion guided—if at all—by the government’s April 2007 document “Western Australia Critical Infrastructure Protection Framework”, which apparently focuses not only on protecting infrastructure from a terrorist attack, but also considers security supply and business continuity issues? (3) How prepared is the government to deal with another major disruption to critical supplies of energy given that these emergencies appear to occur more regularly than the once-in-25-years assertion previously made by the discredited Minister for Energy in April this year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
(3) How prepared is the government to deal with another major disruption to critical supplies of energy given that these emergencies appear to occur more regularly than the once-in-25-years assertion previously made by the discredited Minister for Energy in April this year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
(1)-(3) Firstly, I thank the industry representatives who have responded so collaboratively and cooperatively to this very serious issue that we face. I am very grateful that all parties in the industry have come together and recognised that the problem can be resolved only by cooperation and clarity of information. That is the fact of the matter. I am very grateful to our energy providers, users, consumers and distributors, including Western Power. I anticipated that we would discuss this issue during today’s matter of public interest motion. However, the MPI has been delayed until tomorrow because of the condolence motion for Phil Pendal. I will organise the briefing that the Leader of the Opposition has sought either this afternoon or this evening. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition just said, I appreciate his comments about taking a bipartisan approach to this matter. That is the space that we are in. We are lucky to be in the good situation of having a diversity of energy in Western Australia. Actually, it is not really luck; rather, it is the result of a lot of hard work of governments in the 1970s and 1980s to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. The objectives are simple; namely, to encourage and facilitate the provision of secure, reliable and sustainable energy services at competitive prices. I anticipated that during today’s MPI I would have an opportunity to lay out in great detail what has happened and the government’s response to what has happened. In basic terms, we have the capacity to invoke emergency powers. Legislation that provides that capacity was passed in 1972 and amended in either 1977 or 1979. Legislation that provides that capacity as it relates specifically to gas was passed in 1994. The government has the capacity to invoke emergency powers and to step in and take over. The situation in which we find ourselves at the moment does not require that dramatic action. I do not anticipate that we will find ourselves in the situation of having to invoke emergency powers. Leader of the Opposition, if it is required, I will do it. It is not required at the moment. All industry players and stakeholders are working collaboratively and cooperatively to resolve the situation. If any city, no matter where it was in the world, were to lose 30 per cent of its gas capacity, it would have a major problem on its hands. Other places that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in their gas capacity have endured a cataclysmic and catastrophic outcome; that is, their industries have shut down and people have endured blackouts. So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process — Dr G.G. Jacobs : What is the plan? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
So far, because we have worked quickly and because everybody has come together—I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s attitude to this issue, which was indicated the other day—there has been an absence of unnecessary panic and an absence of unnecessary and inflammatory rhetoric. What there has been is a great deal of goodwill. Despite the fact that we have lost 30 per cent of our domestic gas supply, we have managed the situation and the impact has been minimal, although in some areas it is severe. Our emergency services are not without energy. Western Australia’s ordinary households are not without energy. We have maintained energy provision right across the economy because everybody came together quickly to identify the problem without emergency powers having to be invoked. It took some time to ascertain the severity of the problem. We could not work with an absence of information. Once the severity of the problem was ascertained, everybody worked collaboratively and cooperatively, and so far we have managed the situation well. I anticipate that we will continue to manage the situation. There are difficult times ahead of us. We are calling upon all Western Australians, including domestic consumers, to understand that there is a major problem and that they have a part to play. People must conserve energy. It is not simply a matter of turning off a gas heater and running an electric heater, because gas is used to fire electricity. We must ensure that people understand the situation, and we will be launching a media information advertisement on that tomorrow so that people will be drawn in to try to play a part to manage the situation so that it will not have unnecessarily severe ramifications on the broader community. It has been a very instructive process —
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The plan is the one we are rolling out to manage the situation. I will provide more detail about this tomorrow, but we do not live in an economy, given the nature of our energy profile, whereby we have huge volumes of spare energy capacity in case of a once-in-a-25-year—or twice in a year, as we have had this time—situation. The Western Australian economy is growing rapidly. Energy provision just to match that growth under normal circumstances has been a challenge, which is why I have raised the hackles of industry by saying things like, “You must preserve 15 per cent of gas for the domestic market.” That is why we have gone to great lengths to get a more diverse energy production profile into the Western Australian market. As we have been able to do that, even though we have lost 30 per cent—not three per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent, or even 20 per cent—or nearly one-third of gas supply into the domestic market, there have been no blackouts, no essential service has gone without electricity or energy so far, and the impact on industry has been minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Dr S.C. Thomas : Minimal? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, minimal. Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Dr S.C. Thomas : You mean shutdowns. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As we go through this period, there will be more severe ramifications in some sectors of the economy; we know that, which is why we are taking steps to engage all the partners — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : As I said, we can get through this. We can get through it together, or we can get through it with unnecessary inflammatory panic incitement, instead of responsibility, from the opposition. I hope the Leader of the Opposition sticks to his position of bipartisan support. He is obviously right; he can pursue the issues as they arise and we will respond to them.
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