Turnbull Government leaves proposed Qld water projects high and dry

Queensland Minister for Water Supply Mark Bailey is furious that the Deputy Prime Minister has designed his water infrastructure programs to exclude regional Queensland.

Mr Bailey said the Deputy Prime Minister had made it impossible for Queensland to apply for his programs to construct water infrastructure projects, because the dates set by Mr Joyce to get applications in mean most water projects in Queensland will not be eligible. 

“After not consulting Queensland, Mr Joyce has said we’ve got until March 2017 to submit finalised project business cases to be eligible for the funding, and that the projects must have all planning approvals in place and be construction-ready within 12 months,” Mr Bailey said.

“Obviously, none of the 14 feasibility studies or business cases recently handpicked by Mr Joyce will be finished in this unrealistic timeframe and he knows that.  The purpose of these feasibility studies is to ensure the projects stack up environmentally and economically.

“It’s the same political game playing Barnaby Joyce continues to play over Rookwood Weir.  He doesn’t want to wait for the business case which is currently underway, yet the Turnbull Government’s own policy document states that their funding contribution to Rookwood Weir will only be provided “if the business case meets all necessary requirements and it acquires the required environmental approval”.

Mr Bailey said the process outlined by the Turnbull Government appears to be designed to cut Queensland out, and give the capital money to other States.

“Mr Joyce is either deliberately excluding Queensland or he’s unable to manage his own water programs. Either way, since moving to a safe New South Wales seat, he doesn’t seem to care about Queensland anymore, ” he said.

“Mr Joyce needs to stop playing games with water, pick up the phone and give Queensland a fair go.”

ENDS

Media contact: Zoe Russell - 0428 079 640