Mr KURRUPUWU - 2012-11-27
Can you confirm the Labor government’s intention was to increase power, water and sewerage charges following the election?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member of Arafura for his question. The Leader of the Opposition definitely intended to increase power, water and sewerage tariffs this financial year. We have evidence of it.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I pointed out previously that the CPI was my intention.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, there is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The Leader of the Opposition said a few weeks ago that for the Power and Water Corporation to reach commercial sustainability we would have to increase the tariffs by 50%. That is proof she knew that in order to get the Power and Water Corporation out of the financial state and ruin this former government left it in there would be a 50% increase. She declared her hand at that point.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker. The Treasurer has it wrong. The media asked me for a calculation of what ‘commercial’ would mean.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, there is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: No one is interested in the Leader of the Opposition’s claims of misrepresentation. We heard it, the public heard it, and the media heard it and reported it as such: a 50% increase in tariffs. She is quickly back-peddling pretending she knew nothing about it and it was a different figure she gave.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She is clearly wrong. I answered the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, there is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The Chairman of the Power and Water Corporation wrote to the Treasurer earlier this year and said if she did not make some amendments to the tariffs, as indicated last year, the financial sustainability of the corporation remained a significant challenge without significant revenue increases, cost reductions or deferral of capital investments. What did the former Treasurer do? What did the Leader of the Opposition do? Absolutely nothing apart from implement CPI increases. She was negligent in her duty as a portfolio minister and now she tries to maintain it is us, 13 weeks into government, who are to blame for the mess inherited from the former Labor government. She is misleading and negligent in her duty. Furthermore, the former Treasurer wrote to the Chairman of the Power and Water Corporation Board saying:
Just weeks ago, in order to reach commercial sustainability, a 50% increase in tariffs was required. She was misleading this parliament and the people of the Northern Territory. Shame on her!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I know the Treasurer is hysterical, but ‘misleading’ has already been ruled out of order in this Question Time. She might want to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, please withdraw.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I gladly withdraw because you have a great deal to hide. I understand the embarrassment this must be to you.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the Treasurer makes an unqualified withdrawal.
Madam SPEAKER: Please withdraw, Treasurer.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I withdraw.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member of Arafura for his question. The Leader of the Opposition definitely intended to increase power, water and sewerage tariffs this financial year. We have evidence of it.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I pointed out previously that the CPI was my intention.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, there is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The Leader of the Opposition said a few weeks ago that for the Power and Water Corporation to reach commercial sustainability we would have to increase the tariffs by 50%. That is proof she knew that in order to get the Power and Water Corporation out of the financial state and ruin this former government left it in there would be a 50% increase. She declared her hand at that point.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker. The Treasurer has it wrong. The media asked me for a calculation of what ‘commercial’ would mean.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, there is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: No one is interested in the Leader of the Opposition’s claims of misrepresentation. We heard it, the public heard it, and the media heard it and reported it as such: a 50% increase in tariffs. She is quickly back-peddling pretending she knew nothing about it and it was a different figure she gave.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She is clearly wrong. I answered the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, there is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The Chairman of the Power and Water Corporation wrote to the Treasurer earlier this year and said if she did not make some amendments to the tariffs, as indicated last year, the financial sustainability of the corporation remained a significant challenge without significant revenue increases, cost reductions or deferral of capital investments. What did the former Treasurer do? What did the Leader of the Opposition do? Absolutely nothing apart from implement CPI increases. She was negligent in her duty as a portfolio minister and now she tries to maintain it is us, 13 weeks into government, who are to blame for the mess inherited from the former Labor government. She is misleading and negligent in her duty. Furthermore, the former Treasurer wrote to the Chairman of the Power and Water Corporation Board saying:
- The tariffs for retail electricity, water and sewerage are to be reviewed during 2012-13 on the basis of financial and commercial sustainability.
Just weeks ago, in order to reach commercial sustainability, a 50% increase in tariffs was required. She was misleading this parliament and the people of the Northern Territory. Shame on her!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I know the Treasurer is hysterical, but ‘misleading’ has already been ruled out of order in this Question Time. She might want to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, please withdraw.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I gladly withdraw because you have a great deal to hide. I understand the embarrassment this must be to you.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the Treasurer makes an unqualified withdrawal.
Madam SPEAKER: Please withdraw, Treasurer.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I withdraw.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016