❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister for Energy on the speed of reconnection works after Cyclone Seroja and potential disruptions from industrial action. The Minister vehemently denies Mr. Love's claims about reconnection rates and accuses him of dishonesty.
AnsweredQoN 136Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CYCLONE
SEROJA — WESTERN POWER — INDUSTRIAL ACTION
136. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Energy:
Thank you, minister. That
information comes direct from Western Power and I can provide the minister with
that information if he wants to keep abreast
of what is actually happening in the area. I am only too pleased to keep him up to date with what is actually happening!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Deputy Leader
of the Opposition, it is not an opportunity to have commentary; it is an
opportunity to ask a supplementary question, so I will ask you to do
that.
Mr R.S. LOVE : I have a supplementary
question. What is the minister doing to speed up reconnection works and to
ensure that no further industrial action disrupts the resupply to farmers in
these communities, some of whom are still not able to access their properties
to finish seeding?
SEROJA — WESTERN POWER — INDUSTRIAL ACTION
136. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Energy:
Thank you, minister. That
information comes direct from Western Power and I can provide the minister with
that information if he wants to keep abreast
of what is actually happening in the area. I am only too pleased to keep him up to date with what is actually happening!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Deputy Leader
of the Opposition, it is not an opportunity to have commentary; it is an
opportunity to ask a supplementary question, so I will ask you to do
that.
Mr R.S. LOVE : I have a supplementary
question. What is the minister doing to speed up reconnection works and to
ensure that no further industrial action disrupts the resupply to farmers in
these communities, some of whom are still not able to access their properties
to finish seeding?
AnswerView source ↗
Again, I do not understand why the
member has the wrong information. It is not true to say that the member got
that information from Western Power because that is absolute rubbish! Member,
you have an obligation to come into this chamber and tell the truth and I suggest
you do that!
There
were 31 500 houses out of power at the height of the damage from cyclone
Seroja. Let us understand what happened. An area the size of Tasmania
was taken out by cyclone Seroja. It was 150 kilometres across and 700 kilometres
long. It is a remarkable effort that over 90 per cent of those houses have now
been reconnected, not 45 per cent like the member claimed. It is just
dishonest! It is dishonest to come into this chamber and say that only 45 per cent
of houses have been reconnected. That is a dishonest claim, and the member will
have to explain why he has taken that action.
Point of Order
Mr R.S.
LOVE : The minister is claiming that I am dishonest. I offered to
provide him with the information direct from his own agency, that being Western
Power. I am happy to present or to lay on the table a document from Western
Power that outlines exactly the state of play in those areas in the midwest.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : There is no need for a further point of order
because I am not upholding that point of order. Minister , I just ask you
to draw your answer to a conclusion in a less controversial way.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : No wonder
only four per cent of Western Australians support the Nationals WA when it has such appalling representation! If a person
comes in here and does not know that what he is saying is wrong, that is worse! The connection points of 31 500 houses
were affected by the cyclone. Over 90 per cent—not 45 per cent— have
been reconnected. Many of the ones that remain outstanding have had extensive
damage. In that one area, we are putting in a year's worth of work to
get them reconnected. There has been no impact by the Electrical Trades Union
dispute and I applaud the ETU's decision today not to proceed with
strike action. Western Power tells me the truth. I do not know where you get
your information from, but it is not from Western Power!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you! I would
like to be able to give the member for Kimberley the call.
member has the wrong information. It is not true to say that the member got
that information from Western Power because that is absolute rubbish! Member,
you have an obligation to come into this chamber and tell the truth and I suggest
you do that!
There
were 31 500 houses out of power at the height of the damage from cyclone
Seroja. Let us understand what happened. An area the size of Tasmania
was taken out by cyclone Seroja. It was 150 kilometres across and 700 kilometres
long. It is a remarkable effort that over 90 per cent of those houses have now
been reconnected, not 45 per cent like the member claimed. It is just
dishonest! It is dishonest to come into this chamber and say that only 45 per cent
of houses have been reconnected. That is a dishonest claim, and the member will
have to explain why he has taken that action.
Point of Order
Mr R.S.
LOVE : The minister is claiming that I am dishonest. I offered to
provide him with the information direct from his own agency, that being Western
Power. I am happy to present or to lay on the table a document from Western
Power that outlines exactly the state of play in those areas in the midwest.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : There is no need for a further point of order
because I am not upholding that point of order. Minister , I just ask you
to draw your answer to a conclusion in a less controversial way.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : No wonder
only four per cent of Western Australians support the Nationals WA when it has such appalling representation! If a person
comes in here and does not know that what he is saying is wrong, that is worse! The connection points of 31 500 houses
were affected by the cyclone. Over 90 per cent—not 45 per cent— have
been reconnected. Many of the ones that remain outstanding have had extensive
damage. In that one area, we are putting in a year's worth of work to
get them reconnected. There has been no impact by the Electrical Trades Union
dispute and I applaud the ETU's decision today not to proceed with
strike action. Western Power tells me the truth. I do not know where you get
your information from, but it is not from Western Power!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you! I would
like to be able to give the member for Kimberley the call.
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