Page 2698 - Week 09 - Thursday, 25 August 1994
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MS FOLLETT: The detail of these issues falls more appropriately within Mr Lamont's portfolio than mine; but, as Mrs Carnell was talking, he has been advising me that the answer is no; that we are, indeed, negotiating on the whole of the electricity grid reform. Madam Speaker, if I were to ask Mr Lamont to provide a more detailed answer to Mrs Carnell's question, that would probably be useful for all members of the Assembly. I repeat what I said yesterday: I will continue to take up these matters with the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is fully aware that there is a need for bilateral discussions on this matter. They are fully aware of my concerns over the uneven pace of reform in the electricity market. I would back my ability to get a good result out of the Commonwealth against the Liberal Party's any day.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Lamont, are you going to proceed with the answer?
MR LAMONT: I simply wish to add to the substance of the Chief Minister's response. The additional cost impost, because of the procedure that Mrs Carnell has outlined, to some extent, rests with reform associated with the New South Wales grid system. In case Mrs Carnell had not realised it, let me remind her that they are, in fact, a Liberal government. She appears, from a number of other things that have happened - - -
Mr Connolly: They are as close as a phone call away.
MR LAMONT: They are as close as a phone call away, and that has been proven repeatedly. One of the issues associated with the cost impost on the ACT resides fairly and squarely with the costs and reforms associated with the distribution system - not the generation system, but the distribution system - within the State of New South Wales. We have been saying quite clearly and unequivocally that no changes should occur until such time as we, as consumers, are able to take advantage of those reforms in the New South Wales system.
Mrs Carnell: The Chief Minister agreed at COAG. You know that she did. She agreed in February, and she agreed again last week.
MR LAMONT: Mrs Carnell, I would ask you, for once in your life, to listen. I know that you may not learn anything from it; but at least I can get it on the record where everybody else can see how much you do not know.
Mr Humphries: That is right; shout down your opposition.
MR LAMONT: I will say it once again, and even Mr Humphries may get to understand. The simple fact is that the pace of reform in the distribution industry, in the grid, within Australia will depend upon the pace of reform principally within the State of New South Wales. I have great concerns about the pace of that reform and, inter alia, the benefits that would then flow to us from a national grid system. So, to answer your point simply, we can be confident that we can reduce any cost impact of the process that you have outlined which is being considered for the Snowy only as long as we can achieve the pace of reform within the State of New South Wales, a Liberal dominated State.
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