❓ Dr. Honey questions the Energy Minister about Horizon Power's bidding process, citing private company interest. The Minister defends Horizon Power's approach, referencing legislative requirements and criticising the opposition's past record on remote Aboriginal communities.
AnsweredQoN 231Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HORIZON POWER —
WEST AUSTRALIAN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
231. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. How
does the minister expect us to believe that Horizon Power cannot get companies
to bid for its projects when private companies have told us that they are
anxious for that work?
WEST AUSTRALIAN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
231. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Energy:
I have a supplementary question. How
does the minister expect us to believe that Horizon Power cannot get companies
to bid for its projects when private companies have told us that they are
anxious for that work?
AnswerView source ↗
The reason the member can believe
that is that is what Horizon Power explained to me. There is a process under
the Electricity Corporations Act 2005 that is called section 70; that is, when
energy companies want to take a new policy approach, they have to seek the
agreement of the responsible minister. That is a rigorous process led by Energy
Policy WA, but includes advice from at least Treasury and, in this case, also
from the State Solicitor's Office. It was used when we created Boundary
Power, which again is exactly the same structure in which Horizon holds a 50 per
cent share in the JV, and it is being used in this case as well. The commercial
agreement that Horizon has entered into is entirely appropriate and, as I say,
we do not want to have a situation in which Horizon continues to have projects
for which there are no bids, because we want to make sure that Aboriginal and
remote communities are looked after. As I said,
I understand that the Nationals WA and the Liberal Party were not prepared to
support remote Aboriginal communities. Not a single cent of royalties for
regions money was spent on those 108 communities. They are the 108 communities
that the Liberal and National Parties wanted to close.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order, please! There are
people here who may not like what the minister is saying, but he is entitled to say it. He is coming to the conclusion of his supplementary answer. As for
government members, he does not require your support.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : These are the
communities that the Liberal and National Parties wanted to close. Not one cent
of royalties for regions money was spent in those communities, despite the
billions of dollars that were sloshed
through. It is time that the Liberal and National Parties let the government
get on and deliver the services that we are delivering for those
communities.
that is that is what Horizon Power explained to me. There is a process under
the Electricity Corporations Act 2005 that is called section 70; that is, when
energy companies want to take a new policy approach, they have to seek the
agreement of the responsible minister. That is a rigorous process led by Energy
Policy WA, but includes advice from at least Treasury and, in this case, also
from the State Solicitor's Office. It was used when we created Boundary
Power, which again is exactly the same structure in which Horizon holds a 50 per
cent share in the JV, and it is being used in this case as well. The commercial
agreement that Horizon has entered into is entirely appropriate and, as I say,
we do not want to have a situation in which Horizon continues to have projects
for which there are no bids, because we want to make sure that Aboriginal and
remote communities are looked after. As I said,
I understand that the Nationals WA and the Liberal Party were not prepared to
support remote Aboriginal communities. Not a single cent of royalties for
regions money was spent on those 108 communities. They are the 108 communities
that the Liberal and National Parties wanted to close.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order, please! There are
people here who may not like what the minister is saying, but he is entitled to say it. He is coming to the conclusion of his supplementary answer. As for
government members, he does not require your support.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : These are the
communities that the Liberal and National Parties wanted to close. Not one cent
of royalties for regions money was spent in those communities, despite the
billions of dollars that were sloshed
through. It is time that the Liberal and National Parties let the government
get on and deliver the services that we are delivering for those
communities.
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