RENEWABLE ENERGY —
COLLIE
859. Mr D.R. MICHAEL to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to support the town of Collie as demand for
coal and coal-fired electricity generation declines. Can the minister outline
to the house how the government is supporting a just transition for Collie and
if he is aware of any threats to this transition that will hurt local workers
and local businesses and drive up higher electricity costs?
Mr W.J.
JOHNSTON replied:
I thank the member for the question.
I know of his deep interest in the people of Collie. This is very interesting because the government has gone through a very
careful process to deal with the Collie transition. There is no question
that the rise of renewable energy is having a direct impact on the need for the
coal-fired power stations. That means that we need to respect those people. I am
very proud to have worked with the member for Collie–Preston and
representatives of the workforce—the various unions—to manage
those transitions. Indeed, the Premier and I went in person to meet with the
Synergy workers at the Muja power station who had been impacted immediately by
the decisions of government to move towards the closure of Muja stage C. But
the good news for the people of Collie and those workforces in the coal
industry and the power industry is that because the government owns Synergy, it
can manage that transition in a careful way so that their interests are
properly looked after.
Interestingly, the member
asked whether I am aware of anybody who would get in the way of that careful
management. Of course, I can let the member know that the Liberal Party
would get in the way of that transition because it wants to transfer demand for
electricity from Synergy to businesses that do not own coal-fired power
stations. Every kilowatt hour of power that
is moved from Synergy undermines the continued operation of coal-fired power
stations in Collie. It undermines the jobs of coal workers in Collie.
Before
the coming election, the long-term member for Collie–Preston will be
retiring. The Labor Party was concerned that the Liberal Party might
make a pitch for the coal workers in Collie. But the Leader of the Opposition
has completely abandoned the people of Collie because the policy announced on
Sunday totally and utterly undermines the careful transition plan that is being
done in conjunction with and led by Synergy.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Members!
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON: Synergy is
the key business that manages the transition.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Riverton! I call you to order for the first time.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON: The Leader
of the Opposition wants to throw that out the window and give it away. She
wants to transfer electricity demand from Synergy to other electricity
companies —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Riverton! This is becoming another habit. I call you to order for the second
time.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON: — that are
owned by people on the east coast and by Chinese interests as well. Is that not
interesting?
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Bateman!
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON: They are
supporting the interest of foreign-owned companies and east coast–based
companies against the interests of workers in Collie.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Bateman! I call you to order for the first time.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON: That shows
members what is behind this policy. This is not acceptable and, let me make it
clear, it also undermines the uniform tariff policy. I will explain the uniform
tariff policy, which was supported by the Liberal Party the last time it was in
government. The member for Bateman spoke a moment ago about things that happened 15 years ago. Let me remind members
what happened when he was a member of the cabinet before he was sacked.
Colin Barnett rejected this proposal in the same way that it was rejected by
Eric Ripper, Geoff Gallop, Alan Carpenter
and this government as well. Just because a person can do something, does not
mean that they should do something. Abandoning Synergy and throwing the
people of Collie is not the way forward. The opposition is abandoning the
policy that says regardless of whether a person lives in Perth, Kununurra,
Esperance or Albany, they will pay the same price for electricity. The member
is saying that some people who live in Perth and the surrounding areas will be
able to get cheaper electricity, which means that everybody else who does not
get on that privatisation agenda will have to pay more.