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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 206 asked in the Legislative Council on 22 March 2022 by Hon Dr Steve Thomas

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

WATER CORPORATION — WASTEWATER CHARGES

206. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the Treasurer:

I refer to the Economic Regulation Authority's report The efficient costs and tariffs of the Water Corporation, Aqwest and Busselton Water: Final report, dated 10 November 2017, which identified that Perth wastewater customers were being overcharged by $365.2 million more than the ERA's estimated efficient cost of supply.

(1) What is the current estimated efficient cost of supply of wastewater in Perth, and how does this compare with current wastewater charges?

(2) What savings would be achieved by Perth customers per household if the government charged them the estimated efficient cost of supply?

(3) Did the Treasurer refuse to adjust Perth wastewater charges to the estimated efficient cost of supply because, as he was quoted as Premier in The West Australian on 19 February 2018, he thinks that, ''You need to get that revenue from somewhere''?

(4) Given the $15 billion in expected surpluses over five years, can the Treasurer now identify alternative revenue sources that he can ''get the revenue from somewhere'' so that he can now provide some relief to families struggling with cost-of-living pressures?

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)–(2) The Economic Regulation Authority has not reviewed wastewater charges since 2017 and therefore current estimates of the efficient cost of wastewater services are not available.

(3)–(4) The state government is acutely aware of cost-of-living pressures. Throughout the pandemic, the state government has spent $1.9 billion to keep household fees and charges low and provide relief to households. The state government has delivered measures to support Western Australian households, such as keeping household fees and charges below CPI, a $600 electricity credit to all households, and capping public transport fares—saving some commuters up to $3 000 a year. Most recently, the state government has provided all Western Australians with access to free rapid antigen tests—the only government in Australia to do so. The state government will not take advice from Liberal and National Party members who increased water, sewerage and drainage prices by 66 per cent and power prices by 90 per cent when they were last in government.