Mr. Johnston questions the Treasurer on whether privatising Western Power is in the best interests of Western Australians. The Treasurer avoids a direct answer, referencing NSW asset sales instead, leading to a point of order.

AnsweredQoN 805Legislative Assembly
Asked
18 October 2016
Portfolio
Treasurer

QuestionView source ↗

ASSET SALES — WESTERN
POWER
805. Mr W.J.
JOHNSTON to the Treasurer:
I
have a supplementary question. Does the Treasurer believe that privatising Western
Power is in the best interests of Western Australians or not?

AnswerView source ↗

What
I can do is refer to a former Treasurer of New South Wales, Michael Costa. Lie
after desperate lie has been thrown at the public in an attempt to frighten the
electorate into rejecting the Baird government's sensible and moderate
reforms to the electricity industry.
Point of Order
Mr W.J.
JOHNSTON : I refer you, Mr
Speaker, to the question I asked, which was: Does the Treasurer believe that
privatising Western Power is in the best interests of Western Australians or
not? I fail to see how what happened in New South Wales, where privatisation
did not occur, is relevant to this question.
The
SPEAKER : That is a very
clear question, so just answer that question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Of course, he is wrong again: it has occurred, and it is occurring. The
debate just quoted was in the context of Michael Baird's proposal to
sell assets. He won the election on that campaign and now he is proceeding to
sell the assets, and his investments are creating the fastest growing state in
the country. Is it in our interests? That is what we in government are
responsible for making decisions on, and we will make that decision.

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