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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-10-14 Daily Xml
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Bills

Emergency Management (Electricity Supply Emergencies) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from the 7 September 2021.)

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:21): I indicate that I am the lead speaker for the opposition on the bill, the Emergency Management (Electricity Supply Emergencies) Amendment Bill. In this bill the government is seeking to streamline the acts that allow the government to act in an emergency to maintain our electricity supply. The opposition, of course, supports that.

We understand the government wants the ability to turn people's solar panels on or off at their homes so that the grid can be stabilised in an emergency. Of course, the opposition supports the ability to stabilise the grid in an emergency. That makes sense. However, the opposition considers that householders should be compensated on the very rare occasions that this may occur. We are, therefore, moving an amendment, which I will speak to very briefly today and give more detail on in the committee stage if the bill passes the second reading.

Solar panels on people's homes have two positive economic impacts: the first is the feed-in tariff, and the second is the offset of personal power use. This amendment means that householders will potentially lose both of those benefits. We think it is fair and reasonable that they should be compensated, and that, essentially, is the crux of the amendment that has been filed. Without this amendment, the government's bill will create a disincentive to householders to invest in solar panels. I look forward to speaking further to the particulars of the amendment at the committee stage, but I would like to place on the record the opposition's appreciation for how this bill has been developed.

The government issued a discussion paper, which they then consulted on. They sought advice from all the relevant stakeholders, and they have given the opposition and the community ample time to consider amendments and for us to consult on those amendments, so we appreciate the government's cooperative way in terms of developing this legislation. In summary, the opposition will be supporting the bill but we hope to also get support for the very reasonable and commonsense amendment.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee.

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