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.