Victorian Energy Dispute
Page: 4853
The Hon. J. H. JOBLING: My question is to the Special Minister of State. As one of the shareholding Ministers and as Minister assisting the Treasurer in his absence, was the Minister satisfied by the role NEMMCO played during the Yallourn energy dispute in Victoria? Did NEMMCO adequately advise New South Wales generators of the situation in Victoria? Was any advice given to the shareholding Ministers about this dispute? Did the portfolio Minister offer any comment or advice?
The Hon. J. J. DELLA BOSCA: NEMMCO is an acronym in respect of the national electricity market, and I will leave it at that.
The Hon. J. H. Jobling: You're close.
The Hon. J. J. DELLA BOSCA: I am not close; I am exactly right. I am not going to speak on behalf of the portfolio Minister, as I explained before when answering the previous question, asked by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The Hon. D. J. Gay: This is your area.
The Hon. J. J. DELLA BOSCA: I am answering in reverse order.
The Hon. D. J. Gay: This is your area, not his.
The Hon. J. J. DELLA BOSCA: No. The portfolio Minister is responsible for the regulatory regime. The shareholding Ministers are responsible for the commercial conduct of the enterprise. In relation to the commercial conduct of the enterprise, the shareholders were advised in all relevant matters but the person—
The Hon. J. H. Jobling: You were advised in all relevant matters? You are a shareholder.
The Hon. J. J. DELLA BOSCA: We always are in all matters relevant to being shareholders. The second part of the question relates to the portfolio Minister. As I said, that needs to be addressed by the portfolio Minister.