Hon George Cash raises concerns about maintenance delays at Kwinana power station due to contractor protests and the potential for blackouts. Hon Tom Stephens acknowledges the situation, attributing it to a strike between Skilled Engineering and its staff, and assures that electricity supplies should not be compromised.

AnsweredQoN 1479Legislative Council
Asked
13 November 2003
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

(1) (a) Is the minister aware that a picket protest line is in place at Kwinana power station at 7.00 am every day and the contractors who have been employed to complete important maintenance are part of the protest? (b) Is the minister aware that, because they are participating in the protest, the contractors are not completing their duties and that maintenance work is behind schedule? (c) If so, what action does the minister intend to take to ensure that maintenance at Kwinana power station is completed on time? (d) If no action is intended, why not? (2) Has the minister been alerted to the fact that powerhouse maintenance that is behind schedule was not completed and increases the risk of blackouts across the community? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the question. (1) (a)-(b) Yes. (c)-(d) The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union staff employed by Skilled Engineering to perform maintenance on unit 5 at Kwinana power station are on strike. The dispute is between Skilled Engineering and its staff. Western Power is an affected party in this dispute. The normal industrial dispute settling processes are being pursued by the various parties. (2) Yes. Western Power is confident that the delay to the maintenance work on unit 5 should not compromise electricity supplies.
(c) If so, what action does the minister intend to take to ensure that maintenance at Kwinana power station is completed on time? (d) If no action is intended, why not?
(d) If no action is intended, why not?
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1) (a)-(b) Yes. (c)-(d) The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union staff employed by Skilled Engineering to perform maintenance on unit 5 at Kwinana power station are on strike. The dispute is between Skilled Engineering and its staff. Western Power is an affected party in this dispute. The normal industrial dispute settling processes are being pursued by the various parties. (2) Yes. Western Power is confident that the delay to the maintenance work on unit 5 should not compromise electricity supplies.
I thank the member for the question. (1) (a)-(b) Yes. (c)-(d) The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union staff employed by Skilled Engineering to perform maintenance on unit 5 at Kwinana power station are on strike. The dispute is between Skilled Engineering and its staff. Western Power is an affected party in this dispute. The normal industrial dispute settling processes are being pursued by the various parties. (2) Yes. Western Power is confident that the delay to the maintenance work on unit 5 should not compromise electricity supplies.
(1) (a)-(b) Yes. (c)-(d) The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union staff employed by Skilled Engineering to perform maintenance on unit 5 at Kwinana power station are on strike. The dispute is between Skilled Engineering and its staff. Western Power is an affected party in this dispute. The normal industrial dispute settling processes are being pursued by the various parties. (2) Yes. Western Power is confident that the delay to the maintenance work on unit 5 should not compromise electricity supplies.

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