Time for honesty in this dam debate

Rural Economic Development Minister Bill Byrne says its time the LNP was honest with Queenslanders about dams.

“LNP members should have the fortitude to lay the blame for delays in the Federal Government’s National Water Infrastructure Development Fund where it really lies – at Barnaby Joyce’s door,” the Minister said.

“A draft schedule covering the second round of water feasibility studies was submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister’s department on 21 December last year for consideration.

“We are still waiting for the Turnbull-Joyce Government to offer the revised schedule for signing.

“The delays lie squarely with Mr Joyce.”

Mr Byrne said the Federal Government’s program was plagued with problems from day one and that the Deputy Prime Minister had failed to tell Queensland’s successful proponents that payments would be annual and always a year in arrears.

“Most are small organisations like councils, not for profit groups and industry associations and as such they don’t have sufficient funds to initiate the projects themselves,” he said.

“The Palaszczuk Government had to step in to find interim funding for feasibility studies so the projects could proceed – a loan that the Turnbull Joyce Government will have to pay back.

“Not one dollar has left Mr Joyce’s safe under this program to date.

“The Deputy Prime Minister is constantly picking water fights with Queensland when he should be working with the proponents to solve their problems and get the projects moving.

"What is most disturbing is the silence of Mr Joyce over the proposed military expansions in central and northern Queensland and the damage they will do to the cattle industry in this state.

"Will he listen to the grave concerns being voiced by the industry and will he say what he really thinks about this critical issue?"

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