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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-05 Daily Xml
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STREETLIGHTING CHARGES

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:05): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question regarding consultation with local government regarding the increased costs of street lighting for councils.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: On Wednesday 15 May this year, following my questions about increased state government streetlighting charges to local government, the minister twice responded as follows:

I have been advised that the department has offered to provide further explanation to councils on how council contributions to the commissioner have been determined...

I remind you, sir, and the council that the minister said that on two occasions. Even after these assurances from the minister, councils are still in the dark about how their contributions have been determined by the Commissioner of Highways.

On 26 April this year, councils were advised in correspondence by the Acting Minister for Transport and Infrastructure (Hon. Jack Snelling) that a consultancy company named Trans Tasman Energy Group was being used by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and the Local Government Association as part of their negotiations with SA Power Networks regarding power and maintenance costs. However, just as was the case with advice regarding cost contribution methodology, it would seem that councils are being given little information and no opportunity for input. My questions are:

1. Has the Trans Tasman Energy Group actually consulted with local councils as part of their duties in their negotiations with SA Power Networks to ascertain what rates councils will find affordable?

2. Will the minister commit her office and the relevant department to providing affected councils with information on how their financial contributions to streetlighting costs have been calculated and provide councils with the opportunity to give feedback?

3. Will the minister commit to consulting local government before further increasing state government costs on councils?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. As I indicated the last time the honourable member raised a question about the issue to do with street lighting in this place, I made it quite clear then that it is in fact a matter for the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and the Commissioner of Highways. I am happy to refer these questions to the relevant minister in another place and bring back a response.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: This is becoming very boring. Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mrs Zollo.

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