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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4997 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

It is not what is best for ACTEW but what the demands on the system are. It is quite clear that this is the thinking of the commissioner. I am delighted by it. That is the way I want him to continue thinking. I know that some of these things Mr Kaine would agree with; some of them he has doubts about. Quite clearly, somebody in the system has looked at this and said, "Good heavens, the commissioner is thinking about what is in the best interests of the people, not what is in the best interests of ACTEW. Let us turn it around. Let us change the emphasis". Fortunately, it would appear that this parliament is saying, "Commissioner, you are doing a good job. Keep at it". The press release goes on:

. Developer charges should reflect the cost of developments in different locations and avoid double counting in upfront and periodic charges.

I think we would all agree with that. Here is an interesting one:

. Special levies (eg environmental works charge) should be phased out. The division of works between normal business operations and special "environmental" works may be artificial and the accounting for special levies and related expenditure creates additional administrative expense.

It was always designed as an excuse just to put the charges up. We know that. Remember, we talked about an environmental levy to avoid having another dam built - as if there was going to be another dam built in this Territory in the foreseeable future. After all, we have not touched water from the Cotter Dam for the last 30 years. What are the chances of needing to build a dam in the foreseeable future? They are minimal.

Mr Speaker, this exercise was about moving the emphasis on the way the commissioner for independent pricing operates. Fortunately, Mr Baxter will get the support of this Assembly, I believe, and will be able to continue his role, as this parliament wanted it to be, in the very best interests of the people in Canberra rather than in supporting a sectional interest, the interest of the monopoly group of ACTEW.

Most of us recognise that ACTEW is doing some fine work and that the people in ACTEW are working very hard to ensure that these issues are dealt with properly. I had the good fortune to speak to ACTEW on the matter of electricity services when there was a problem recently. They did not know me other than as one of their customers, but the way they dealt with me over the phone was an absolute delight. I thought they did very well. When they were looking at problems that one of my neighbours had recently, they were efficient and tried very hard to resolve the problem as fast as possible.

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