ALBANY WAVE ENERGY
PROJECT — CARNEGIE CLEAN ENERGY —RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TAX
INCENTIVES
1035. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to the minister's
answer to question without notice 1014 asked on Tuesday, 30 October 2018.
(1) Who from the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provided her with
advice on the potential for the proposed changes to impact on Carnegie Clean
Energy?
(2) On what date was the advice
received and will she table that advice; and, if not, why not?
(3) What was the
specific impact on Carnegie as a result of these changes or was the advice
general in nature and indicated that there was only a possibility that the
changes may impact Carnegie?
(4) If there was
no specific advice on the impact on Carnegie, why did the minister assert that
it is clear that the federal government's proposed changes to research
and development tax incentives have affected the company and that the federal
government flagged an intention to change the research and development tax
concession, which radically changed the circumstances of that firm?
(5) Apart from
the two letters that she has written to the federal government, did the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development consult with the
federal government in formulating the advice; if so, will she table the advice
from the federal government; and, if not, why not?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
(1) I have
received regular updates from the director general and the deputy director
general of industry and economic development regarding the delivery of the
Albany wave energy technology development project. My office is in regular
contact with departmental officers responsible for overseeing the state's
investment. I am also in regular contact with WA companies that have raised
this issue.
(2)–(3) I
was advised in August 2018 that the proposed changes to the federal government's
research and development tax incentive had the potential to impact on the
operations of Carnegie Clean Energy. On 25 September 2018 and 1 October 2018, I
received specific advice on the potential impact that the proposed changes
would have on Carnegie Clean Energy's ability to deliver the Albany
wave energy technology development project. I am not in a position to table
that advice as it includes material that may be considered
commercial-in-confidence.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) There was no
point in the department consulting with the federal government as the
information on the proposed changes was
publicly available. Our role was and is to advocate for change to the proposed
policy setting, and we encourage the
WA Liberals to do the same. The Leader of the Opposition may wish to join
forces with Senator Linda Reynolds, who has said publicly, ''We've
got a lot of discussions to go but the case that we are seeking to put to
government is that we do need to raise the cap in certain circumstances.''