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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 7 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1813 ..

MR DE DOMENICO (continuing):

The third reason was Canberra residents' support for the implementation of the water futures strategy. The 1996-97 prices also provided the right starting point for the introduction of independent oversight of ACTEW's prices.

In direct answer, again, to Mr Osborne's question, we approached the commissioner, whose name I will be announcing next week, and he has given us the okay to say, "Yes, it is okay to increase the water and sewerage prices by less than the CPI increase".

Mr Osborne: Did he have to give you the okay before you agreed to appoint him?

Mr Moore: There is no tribunal; there is no commissioner.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Just answer Mr Osborne's question, as you see fit, Minister.

MR DE DOMENICO: Thank you, Mr Speaker; I intend to do so. I will not take on the interjections by the people opposite, who do not know what they are talking about.

MR SPEAKER: Indeed; just ignore the interjections.

MR DE DOMENICO: Thank you. Therefore, Mr Osborne, I repeat that these charges mean that consumers' bills for 1996-97 will decrease because the increase in water and sewerage prices is below the CPI increase.

MR OSBORNE: Sprung, Tony, sprung! Am I to take it from your answer, Minister, that the tribunal has been set up and that this tribunal was briefed about this price rise? Is that what you just said?

MR DE DOMENICO: No. The answer to that, Mr Osborne, is that the commissioner - - -

Mr Osborne: Yes or no?

MR DE DOMENICO: It is not as simple as yes or no. You might think everything is simplistic, Mr Osborne, but everything is not simplistic. The commissioner, whose name will be announced next week - - -

Mr Osborne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I might clarify for the Minister something which I read from Hansard, but I will read it again. He said:

Can I also say, in answer to Mr Osborne's question, that any increases at all in ACTEW prices will be determined by the tribunal that Mr Osborne's amendment put into the Bill.

Mr Kaine: Mr Speaker, are we in the middle of a debate, or is the Minister answering a question?

MR SPEAKER: Exactly. There is no point of order, Mr Osborne. The Minister is well aware of the question that you have asked. Have you finished your answer, Mr De Domenico?

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