WATER CORPORATION — WASTEWATER CHARGES
195. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
Interesting! I refer to the Economic
Regulation Authority final report of 10 November 2017 titled The efficient
costs and tariffs of the Water Corporation Aqwest and Busselton Water,
which identified that Perth wastewater customers were being overcharged by
$365.2 million, more than the Economic Regulation Authority's estimated
efficient cost of supply.
(1) Has the
McGowan government reduced the cost of Perth wastewater to reflect the
estimated efficient cost of supply?
(2) Has the
McGowan government reduced the cost of Perth wastewater at all since it came to
power in 2017; and, if so, by how much?
(3) Has the
McGowan government increased the cost of Perth wastewater at all since it came
to power in 2017; and, if so, by how much?
(4) Does the Treasurer
still hold the position that he put publicly as Premier on 19 February 2018 in The
West Australian that Perth households are paying too much, but that this is
vital for raising revenue?
Hon SAMANTHA ROWE replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question, and
provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for Emergency Services
representing the Treasurer.
(1)–(4)
The McGowan Labor government reduced water,
wastewater and drainage charges by $23.52 in 2020–21 for the
representative household. This is in comparison with the previous Liberal–National
government, which increased water, sewerage and drainage prices by 66 per cent
in its last term.