Mr. Templeman questions the Minister for Energy's lack of responsibility regarding a potentially dangerous, live streetlight pole in Mandurah, despite Western Power's involvement. The Minister responds by outlining the separation of EnergySafety and Western Power, promising to investigate and await facts before making a decision.

AnsweredQoN 158Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 March 2015
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

STREETLIGHT POLE — ELECTRIC SHOCK —
MANDURAH
158. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the
Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. Given that EnergySafety is
not the Minister for Energy's responsibility but Western Power is, why
will the minister not take responsibility for getting answers to the questions
about the pole's activity and guarantee that no other broken light
poles are still live and of danger to the public?

AnswerView source ↗

Western Power was involved; it supplies energy to the pole.
It had reportedly de-energised the pole. It is subject to investigation. I will
do the right thing. I will get the facts of who is responsible, who owns the
pole, whether there was some error in de-energising it, and why it lay on the
ground for five months, before I come to a conclusion. Quite rightly, the
previous Labor government separated EnergySafety from Western Power.
EnergySafety adjudicates the behaviour of Western Power and all other electricity
providers. That is the way it should be. EnergySafety reports to the Minister
for Commerce. Inquiries are underway. Western Power has an inquiry underway to
find out what happened. When I get that, I will make a decision, but we will
wait for the facts before we jump to conclusions.

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