Page 66 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 27 November 2012
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It is also important to stress that investments in renewables is not occurring in isolation from other policy measures, in particular, policy measures that help save Canberrans money through energy efficiency. What we know from the energy efficiency laws passed by the last Assembly, opposed by those opposite, is going to save Canberrans–
Mr Smyth: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker—can we stop the clock, please?
MADAM SPEAKER: Can we stop the clock, please?
Mr Smyth: Standing order 118(a) says that answers to questions without notice shall be concise and directly relevant. The question was: what impact will this policy have on many lower and middle income Canberrans already struggling to pay electricity bills? The minister has not addressed the impact on lower and middle income earners and their electricity bill. I will remind him that I also asked that he table such modelling.
MADAM SPEAKER: On the point of order, the standing order does require the minister to be directly relevant. The question was about the impact on low income earners. Minister, can you come to the point of the question?
MR CORBELL: Just on the point of order, Madam Speaker, I am addressing issues around saving consumers money through energy efficiency and is not that part of my answer directly relevant?
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, can you sit down, please?
Mr Seselja: Madam Speaker, if I could assist, It is not directly relevant to it because it was specifically about what the impact would be of this policy on low and middle income earners. He was asked whether he would table it. He has not addressed the second part at all and he has strayed well away from the actual impact of this specific policy on low and middle income families.
Mr Corbell interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: I have already made a ruling. Mr Corbell, if you could sit down, please. I have made a ruling, and drawn your attention to standing order 118(a), that the answer shall be concise and directly relevant to the subject matter. The subject matter was “what is the impact this will have on low income earners?” The question was not “what impact is this going to have generally or how does this fit into the suite of other policies?” The question was “how will this affect low income earners?” I would ask you to be directly relevant to the question and come to the point of the question.
MR CORBELL: In relation to low and medium income earners, protecting them against price rises is going to be achieved through energy efficiency laws. Energy
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