❓ Mr Sprigg questions the adequacy of consultation by Western Power regarding powerlines, citing a low number of people contacted. Mr Carpenter defends the consultation efforts, stating Western Power did what it could, but acknowledges resident concerns and the difficulty in engaging people.
AnsweredQoN 406Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I have a supplementary question. How can the minister say that contacting just 540 people in a narrow band along the 13.3 kilometres of the powerlines is adequate consultation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
This reminds me of an experience that Michael Heath had when he was on the 7.30 Report , when he asked a prepared question, irrespective of the previous answer. It can be quite detrimental to one’s career. I did not say the consultation was adequate. That figure of 540 indicates that an effort was put in. As the member can see, 540 people have been consulted with, but I did not say it was adequate. Western Power tells me it has done everything it possibly could. People cannot be forced to respond to newsletters, flyers and so on. That is the matter; that is what happens. Quite often, in these scenarios - I had the same experience as Minister for Education and Training - notifications are put out to people about upcoming events, and they do not respond until these things are happening before their eyes. It is very difficult to make people respond in this consultative process. However, I did not say that I was convinced that the matter had been handled adequately. Western Power assures me that it has been, the residents say that it has not been, and there is the conundrum.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: This reminds me of an experience that Michael Heath had when he was on the 7.30 Report , when he asked a prepared question, irrespective of the previous answer. It can be quite detrimental to one’s career. I did not say the consultation was adequate. That figure of 540 indicates that an effort was put in. As the member can see, 540 people have been consulted with, but I did not say it was adequate. Western Power tells me it has done everything it possibly could. People cannot be forced to respond to newsletters, flyers and so on. That is the matter; that is what happens. Quite often, in these scenarios - I had the same experience as Minister for Education and Training - notifications are put out to people about upcoming events, and they do not respond until these things are happening before their eyes. It is very difficult to make people respond in this consultative process. However, I did not say that I was convinced that the matter had been handled adequately. Western Power assures me that it has been, the residents say that it has not been, and there is the conundrum.
This reminds me of an experience that Michael Heath had when he was on the 7.30 Report , when he asked a prepared question, irrespective of the previous answer. It can be quite detrimental to one’s career. I did not say the consultation was adequate. That figure of 540 indicates that an effort was put in. As the member can see, 540 people have been consulted with, but I did not say it was adequate. Western Power tells me it has done everything it possibly could. People cannot be forced to respond to newsletters, flyers and so on. That is the matter; that is what happens. Quite often, in these scenarios - I had the same experience as Minister for Education and Training - notifications are put out to people about upcoming events, and they do not respond until these things are happening before their eyes. It is very difficult to make people respond in this consultative process. However, I did not say that I was convinced that the matter had been handled adequately. Western Power assures me that it has been, the residents say that it has not been, and there is the conundrum.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: This reminds me of an experience that Michael Heath had when he was on the 7.30 Report , when he asked a prepared question, irrespective of the previous answer. It can be quite detrimental to one’s career. I did not say the consultation was adequate. That figure of 540 indicates that an effort was put in. As the member can see, 540 people have been consulted with, but I did not say it was adequate. Western Power tells me it has done everything it possibly could. People cannot be forced to respond to newsletters, flyers and so on. That is the matter; that is what happens. Quite often, in these scenarios - I had the same experience as Minister for Education and Training - notifications are put out to people about upcoming events, and they do not respond until these things are happening before their eyes. It is very difficult to make people respond in this consultative process. However, I did not say that I was convinced that the matter had been handled adequately. Western Power assures me that it has been, the residents say that it has not been, and there is the conundrum.
This reminds me of an experience that Michael Heath had when he was on the 7.30 Report , when he asked a prepared question, irrespective of the previous answer. It can be quite detrimental to one’s career. I did not say the consultation was adequate. That figure of 540 indicates that an effort was put in. As the member can see, 540 people have been consulted with, but I did not say it was adequate. Western Power tells me it has done everything it possibly could. People cannot be forced to respond to newsletters, flyers and so on. That is the matter; that is what happens. Quite often, in these scenarios - I had the same experience as Minister for Education and Training - notifications are put out to people about upcoming events, and they do not respond until these things are happening before their eyes. It is very difficult to make people respond in this consultative process. However, I did not say that I was convinced that the matter had been handled adequately. Western Power assures me that it has been, the residents say that it has not been, and there is the conundrum.
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