STATUTES AMENDMENT (NATIONAL ENERGY RETAIL LAW IMPLEMENTATION) BILL

Final Stages

Consideration in committee of the House of Assembly's message.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I move:

That the Legislative Council does not insist on its amendments opposed by the House of Assembly.

For reasons I have already put on the record during the committee stage, the government cannot support the amendments as they would result in the solar feed-in scheme becoming a gross scheme for some customers, thereby increasing the costs of the scheme on all electricity customers. Amendments resulting in additional costs to all electricity consumers are inconsistent with this council's intent when it passed the changes to the scheme in June of last year that limited cost impacts to all customers.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: The Greens believe that we got the right balance when we debated this in the Legislative Council recently, and we are inclined to insist upon our amendments. If the government decides to take it to a deadlock conference we will participate in those discussions.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I indicate that the opposition believes the Legislative Council should insist on its amendments. We thought they were very sensible amendments at the time they were passed and are very disappointed that the government has not seen fit to support them in the House of Assembly.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: I agree with the government's amendment.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Family First will not change its position from last time, which was to support the opposition.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON: I will support the Greens—

The CHAIR: To insist on the amendments?

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON: Yes.

The committee divided on the motion:

Majority of 5 for the noes.

Motion thus negatived.