Question Without Notice No. 1514 asked in the Legislative Council on 28 November 2023 by Hon Dr Steve Thomas
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
ENERGY — POWERINGWA
1514. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the joint media release of 17 November 2023 from the Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade and the Minister for Energy trumpeting the establishment of PoweringWA to coordinate the delivery of new electricity infrastructure with responsibility for planning, community consultation, industry liaison and project management.
(1) Before the announced establishment of PoweringWA, who or whom was responsible for coordinating the delivery of new electricity infrastructure, planning, community consultation, industry liaison and project management?
(2) With the removal of the above duties to PoweringWA, what role does the previous provider now deliver in energy projects in Western Australia?
(3) How will the establishment of PoweringWA rectify the government's tacit admission of nearly seven years of neglect in futureproofing the state's power grid?
Hon DARREN WEST replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Energy, I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy.
(1)–(3) It is over 15 years since load growth required significant new transmission infrastructure in the south west of Western Australia. The Cook Labor government commissioned the Whole of system plan and the SWIS demand assessment and has been planning for new transmission infrastructure. This transformation is large and complex and needs to be delivered at pace to meet decarbonisation ambitions. The scope of this electricity infrastructure build, which includes transmission, general and storage, reaches outside of Western Power and beyond the responsibilities of any one existing agency. The Cook government is creating PoweringWA as a new specialised entity to coordinate the actions required and to ensure that the WA community is engaged during the process. PoweringWA has been supported by all major users of the south west interconnected system.