Page 3905 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 29 October 2013
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...the respondents’ management of what was a crisis of water wastage is that it was it was indifferent, bordering on negligent … It was certainly rude and dismissive, because the respondents’ initial means of dealing with it was to bill the applicant customers for the lot.
Minister, as a shareholder of ACTEW, what will you and your government be doing to ensure that incidents like this will not happen again?
MR BARR: Yes, I have seen some media reportage of this case. I think it would be fair to say that ACTEW did not cover themselves in glory in this matter, and I am pleased that there has been an appropriate resolution. Management and the board of ACTEW, I am sure, will consider their responses to the issues raised by this issue.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, why was ACTEW rude and dismissive in dealing with this couple?
MR BARR: I do not know. It is certainly not the experience for the overwhelming majority of ACTEW customers, but it is disappointing in this instance. I do not have an answer to that, other than human error.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, why did ACTEW not take water wastage seriously and why did ACTEW not inform the couple in a timely and responsible manner?
MR BARR: These are matters for ACTEW. I have no role in the day-to-day billing and account details of a householder. I am not in a position to provide details in relation to every single account holder in the ACT. The matter has been extensively canvassed within the ACAT and it is appropriate that it remain in that forum.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, how many other cases of overbilling due to leaks are you aware of? If you do not know, will you take this and all the other questions asked today on notice and get back to the Assembly?
MR BARR: From time to time, as a member of the Assembly, I receive representations from constituents in relation to billing matters with ACTEW. They are referred to ACTEW for appropriate resolution and they are resolved.
Alexander Maconochie Centre—capacity
MRS JONES: My question is addressed to the Minister for Corrections. In your answer to a question on notice to Mr Smyth on 7 July 2013 you reported on future capacity at the AMC and referred to a report by Ross Petsas Luksza which included detailed ACT Treasury projections from May 2003. In 2002 did the government have Treasury advice which showed that the capacity of the AMC in 2013 should be between 320 and 351?
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