Mr STIRLING - 1997-02-19
I refer to page 42 of the Bulletin dated 18 February where it is stated: `Melbourne still has the lowest electricity prices in Australia at 5.94› per kilowatt-hour compared with Sydney's 6.56›. Darwin is worst off at 14.68›'. Will the minister admit that the highest electricity charges in Australia are a financial burden around the necks of all Darwin residents and a disincentive for potential investors and local industry?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for Nhulunbuy is trying deliberately to mislead the community with this question. As the Treasurer pointed out, we have the third-highest electricity charges in Australia and we are very close to having the fourth highest. We have frozen electricity charges since 1992. No other state or territory government has done that. Members opposite appear to have forgotten that we inherited from the Commonwealth an oil-fired power station that was in debt to the tune of $50m. We have a situation now where 93% of Territory energy through electricity is supplied by gas, and we have one of the most efficient systems in Australia. We will continue with that efficiency and we will continue to reduce electricity charges as we have previously. Over the last 4 years, I think it is, we have decreased electricity charges in real terms by about 15% and we will continue that process. I say to the member for Nhulunbuy, shame on him for deliberately misleading the community.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for Nhulunbuy is trying deliberately to mislead the community with this question. As the Treasurer pointed out, we have the third-highest electricity charges in Australia and we are very close to having the fourth highest. We have frozen electricity charges since 1992. No other state or territory government has done that. Members opposite appear to have forgotten that we inherited from the Commonwealth an oil-fired power station that was in debt to the tune of $50m. We have a situation now where 93% of Territory energy through electricity is supplied by gas, and we have one of the most efficient systems in Australia. We will continue with that efficiency and we will continue to reduce electricity charges as we have previously. Over the last 4 years, I think it is, we have decreased electricity charges in real terms by about 15% and we will continue that process. I say to the member for Nhulunbuy, shame on him for deliberately misleading the community.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016