❓ The Minister for Energy responds to a question regarding power supply contracts in the West Kimberley, criticising the previous government for entering into a binding agreement that costs $100 million to exit, while also committing to a consultant's study for a small-scale tidal power project.
AnsweredQoN 182Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WEST KIMBERLEY, POWER SUPPLY CONTRACTS
Can the minister advise the House of the outcome of tough legal scrutiny that the Government has applied to contracts for the supply of power to towns in the West Kimberley that were entered into by the previous Government? Mr RIPPER
Can the minister advise the House of the outcome of tough legal scrutiny that the Government has applied to contracts for the supply of power to towns in the West Kimberley that were entered into by the previous Government? Mr RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
This is an example of the former Government committing the incoming Government to a major contract. On 29 December 2000 - 11 days before the announcement of the state election - the Minister for Energy, who is the current Leader of the Opposition, arranged for Western Power to enter into a long-term power contract for the purchase of power in the West Kimberley. That document was executed on 29 December 2000. However, the full body of the contract was not printed until 1 March 2001, which is an extraordinary aspect of this affair. I wonder how many other documents and matters were signed between 29 December 2000 and the announcement of the state election and the beginning of the caretaker period. The Labor Party promised that it would subject that document to tough legal scrutiny and it has. It has been subjected to legal scrutiny by the Crown Solicitor’s Office. It has also been the subject of advice to me from Western Power. The sad fact is that the power purchase agreement is binding. The State cannot exit the agreement without incurring costs of $100 million. The Leader of the Opposition had his way. He stopped the Derby tidal power project just 10 or 11 days before the announcement of the state election and the commencement of the caretaker period. Western Power cannot purchase the same amount of power from two proponents. The Government will go ahead with the arrangement with Energy Equity Pty Ltd and Woodside Pty Ltd. However, the Government will arrange for a consultant’s study of the prospects for a small-scale tidal power project to deliver power to Derby. Mr Barnett: Another broken promise by the Labor Party! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr RIPPER replied: This is an example of the former Government committing the incoming Government to a major contract. On 29 December 2000 - 11 days before the announcement of the state election - the Minister for Energy, who is the current Leader of the Opposition, arranged for Western Power to enter into a long-term power contract for the purchase of power in the West Kimberley. That document was executed on 29 December 2000. However, the full body of the contract was not printed until 1 March 2001, which is an extraordinary aspect of this affair. I wonder how many other documents and matters were signed between 29 December 2000 and the announcement of the state election and the beginning of the caretaker period. The Labor Party promised that it would subject that document to tough legal scrutiny and it has. It has been subjected to legal scrutiny by the Crown Solicitor’s Office. It has also been the subject of advice to me from Western Power. The sad fact is that the power purchase agreement is binding. The State cannot exit the agreement without incurring costs of $100 million. The Leader of the Opposition had his way. He stopped the Derby tidal power project just 10 or 11 days before the announcement of the state election and the commencement of the caretaker period. Western Power cannot purchase the same amount of power from two proponents. The Government will go ahead with the arrangement with Energy Equity Pty Ltd and Woodside Pty Ltd. However, the Government will arrange for a consultant’s study of the prospects for a small-scale tidal power project to deliver power to Derby. Mr Barnett: Another broken promise by the Labor Party! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
This is an example of the former Government committing the incoming Government to a major contract. On 29 December 2000 - 11 days before the announcement of the state election - the Minister for Energy, who is the current Leader of the Opposition, arranged for Western Power to enter into a long-term power contract for the purchase of power in the West Kimberley. That document was executed on 29 December 2000. However, the full body of the contract was not printed until 1 March 2001, which is an extraordinary aspect of this affair. I wonder how many other documents and matters were signed between 29 December 2000 and the announcement of the state election and the beginning of the caretaker period. The Labor Party promised that it would subject that document to tough legal scrutiny and it has. It has been subjected to legal scrutiny by the Crown Solicitor’s Office. It has also been the subject of advice to me from Western Power. The sad fact is that the power purchase agreement is binding. The State cannot exit the agreement without incurring costs of $100 million. The Leader of the Opposition had his way. He stopped the Derby tidal power project just 10 or 11 days before the announcement of the state election and the commencement of the caretaker period. Western Power cannot purchase the same amount of power from two proponents. The Government will go ahead with the arrangement with Energy Equity Pty Ltd and Woodside Pty Ltd. However, the Government will arrange for a consultant’s study of the prospects for a small-scale tidal power project to deliver power to Derby. Mr Barnett: Another broken promise by the Labor Party! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr Barnett: Another broken promise by the Labor Party! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr RIPPER replied: This is an example of the former Government committing the incoming Government to a major contract. On 29 December 2000 - 11 days before the announcement of the state election - the Minister for Energy, who is the current Leader of the Opposition, arranged for Western Power to enter into a long-term power contract for the purchase of power in the West Kimberley. That document was executed on 29 December 2000. However, the full body of the contract was not printed until 1 March 2001, which is an extraordinary aspect of this affair. I wonder how many other documents and matters were signed between 29 December 2000 and the announcement of the state election and the beginning of the caretaker period. The Labor Party promised that it would subject that document to tough legal scrutiny and it has. It has been subjected to legal scrutiny by the Crown Solicitor’s Office. It has also been the subject of advice to me from Western Power. The sad fact is that the power purchase agreement is binding. The State cannot exit the agreement without incurring costs of $100 million. The Leader of the Opposition had his way. He stopped the Derby tidal power project just 10 or 11 days before the announcement of the state election and the commencement of the caretaker period. Western Power cannot purchase the same amount of power from two proponents. The Government will go ahead with the arrangement with Energy Equity Pty Ltd and Woodside Pty Ltd. However, the Government will arrange for a consultant’s study of the prospects for a small-scale tidal power project to deliver power to Derby. Mr Barnett: Another broken promise by the Labor Party! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
This is an example of the former Government committing the incoming Government to a major contract. On 29 December 2000 - 11 days before the announcement of the state election - the Minister for Energy, who is the current Leader of the Opposition, arranged for Western Power to enter into a long-term power contract for the purchase of power in the West Kimberley. That document was executed on 29 December 2000. However, the full body of the contract was not printed until 1 March 2001, which is an extraordinary aspect of this affair. I wonder how many other documents and matters were signed between 29 December 2000 and the announcement of the state election and the beginning of the caretaker period. The Labor Party promised that it would subject that document to tough legal scrutiny and it has. It has been subjected to legal scrutiny by the Crown Solicitor’s Office. It has also been the subject of advice to me from Western Power. The sad fact is that the power purchase agreement is binding. The State cannot exit the agreement without incurring costs of $100 million. The Leader of the Opposition had his way. He stopped the Derby tidal power project just 10 or 11 days before the announcement of the state election and the commencement of the caretaker period. Western Power cannot purchase the same amount of power from two proponents. The Government will go ahead with the arrangement with Energy Equity Pty Ltd and Woodside Pty Ltd. However, the Government will arrange for a consultant’s study of the prospects for a small-scale tidal power project to deliver power to Derby. Mr Barnett: Another broken promise by the Labor Party! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr Barnett: Another broken promise by the Labor Party! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr RIPPER: If the results of that are feasible, the Government will call tenders for a tidal power project in Derby. I am amazed that the Leader of the Opposition would refer to a broken promise. He is the one who stopped the Labor Party from implementing that promise because he signed an 18-year contract 11 days before the caretaker period. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr RIPPER: He is the one who put the incoming Government in a position in which it must spend $100 million to get out of that contract. The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
The SPEAKER: The level of noise coming from my left meant that I could not hear what the minister was saying. Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
The SPEAKER: It is highly disorderly for the Leader of the Opposition to speak while I am on my feet. I request that members hear the rest of the answer in silence. Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
Mr RIPPER: I wonder when the Leader of the Opposition will dare go to Derby to explain what he did.
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