Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Tuesday 13th July 2010

Did Aurora Seek Financial Support Prior to the Election?

In Legislative Council Question Time today, Liberal MLC Vanessa Goodwin asked the Treasurer if Aurora Energy had requested additional financial support prior to the 2010 state election.

In his response, the Treasurer failed to rule it out.

The Treasurer has previously confirmed that, at Aurora's request, he met with Aurora's directors in January. It now appears that Aurora directors used this meeting canvas a range of issues and a range of options regarding Aurora's financial situation prior to Labor announcing their hoax five percent electricity price cap policy in the election campaign.

It is simply not believable that the Treasurer can't recall whether or not Aurora had asked for additional financial support when he met with them in January.

Either Aurora asked for additional financial support, or they didn't.

And if they did, it blows a massive hole in the government's claims that they didn't know about Aurora's financial situation prior to the election.

Whilst the Auditor-General will now spend time and taxpayers' money looking into this matter, it would save effort and taxpayers' money if Michael Aird would stop the charade and simply tell the truth.