❓ Shadow Treasurer Ripper questions Premier Barnett about utility bill increases impacting university students, highlighting St Vincent de Paul's assistance. Barnett deflects, blaming the previous Labor government's debt for the increases.
AnsweredQoN 730Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS — HOUSEHOLD COST INCREASES
I refer to the staggering increases in bills that have been felt by households across Western Australia over the past two years, and today I refer specifically to the struggles of university students. (1) Is the Premier aware that earlier this year the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Curtin University student guild began a partnership to assist struggling students by giving out food vouchers and helping students to pay their utility bills? (2) What assistance is the state government giving to students who are struggling with their bills? (3) Does the Premier recognise that this is yet another sector of our community that is doing it tough as a result of the government’s savage increases to household bills? (4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the staggering increases in bills that have been felt by households across Western Australia over the past two years, and today I refer specifically to the struggles of university students. (1) Is the Premier aware that earlier this year the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Curtin University student guild began a partnership to assist struggling students by giving out food vouchers and helping students to pay their utility bills? (2) What assistance is the state government giving to students who are struggling with their bills? (3) Does the Premier recognise that this is yet another sector of our community that is doing it tough as a result of the government’s savage increases to household bills? (4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(1) Is the Premier aware that earlier this year the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Curtin University student guild began a partnership to assist struggling students by giving out food vouchers and helping students to pay their utility bills? (2) What assistance is the state government giving to students who are struggling with their bills? (3) Does the Premier recognise that this is yet another sector of our community that is doing it tough as a result of the government’s savage increases to household bills? (4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(2) What assistance is the state government giving to students who are struggling with their bills? (3) Does the Premier recognise that this is yet another sector of our community that is doing it tough as a result of the government’s savage increases to household bills? (4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(3) Does the Premier recognise that this is yet another sector of our community that is doing it tough as a result of the government’s savage increases to household bills? (4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(1) Is the Premier aware that earlier this year the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Curtin University student guild began a partnership to assist struggling students by giving out food vouchers and helping students to pay their utility bills? (2) What assistance is the state government giving to students who are struggling with their bills? (3) Does the Premier recognise that this is yet another sector of our community that is doing it tough as a result of the government’s savage increases to household bills? (4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(2) What assistance is the state government giving to students who are struggling with their bills? (3) Does the Premier recognise that this is yet another sector of our community that is doing it tough as a result of the government’s savage increases to household bills? (4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(3) Does the Premier recognise that this is yet another sector of our community that is doing it tough as a result of the government’s savage increases to household bills? (4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(4) Does the Premier take any personal responsibility for the fact that Western Australian university students are compromising their studies and their requirements for new textbooks as a result of their need to pay utility bills that the government has imposed? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
(1)–(4) I would not have thought university students typically had high electricity bills, unless they were supporting a family; that is a reality of university accommodation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : But, do I take responsibility? Yes, I do, in the sense that the decision to increase electricity and water charges was made by this government. Why was that, Mr Speaker? As we have said probably 50 times in this chamber this year, it was because the previous government and the previous Minister for Energy—now the Leader of the Opposition, which is his rightful place in politics—left this state with $1 billion of debt, and that is why, and that is what we addressed. Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : We left you with the lowest state debt on record. Don’t mislead the house; tell the truth! Once again, you don’t tell the truth. That’s becoming your characteristic! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former government left us with $1 billion of debt. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Leader of the Opposition, you have asked the Premier a question and I expect that you are anticipating an answer, as are many other people in this place. If you continue to interject, you might not get an answer, though. The Premier has the call. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we looked at the forward estimates—something members opposite are very fond of — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You don’t like them; why are you looking at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite bothered to look at those and understood what they were — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You always carry on about how you can ignore them! The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite looked at the forward estimates, they would see the debt levels. Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : They never come—the forward estimates never come! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite took the time and looked at them, they would see, as I think the opposition is aware, that the projected level of loss over that four-year period for Verve Energy was about $1 billion. Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Now, the former government’s answer to that was to call the loss a community service obligation. Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : And to protect WA families. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, not to protect Western Australian families. Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : To use the richness of our state to look after our people. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It was a simple choice—either the electricity consumer pays for it or the taxpayer; there is no other option. The former government’s solution was to take money from the tax-paying public to try to subsidise the electricity price to conceal the loss. It was no community service obligation; it was concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : If it’s an open subsidy, how was that concealment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is what it was about; it was about concealing the Labor Party’s loss. Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : You just make it up, you know! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Last night we heard members talk about how they had a plan; they had a 10-year plan whereby they were going to have only 10 per cent increases because they were going to subsidise electricity prices, which, I think, would have cost about $700 million to $800 million. Is that the opposition’s policy? Is that what it would do today? Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : That was our policy; that was our plan. You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Is the opposition committing $700 million to electricity subsidies? Is it? Is the Leader of the Opposition going to commit $700 million? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done; that was our plan! You’ve taken the money and spent it on other things. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The opposition’s plan has gone, so is it now committing $700 million to subsidise electricity prices? Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s what we would have done. You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. We don’t make up policy on the run; we don’t make it up like you do! You’ll get our commitments in the run-up to the election. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh—the run-up to the election! Well done, Leader of the Opposition. He can put his promise in the forward estimates, and he will never get there because he will never be in government. What a joke!
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