QUEENSLAND SAYS NO TO WATER RATIONS FOR HOUSEHOLDS

November 28, 2006

The Beattie Government will strongly oppose a Commonwealth proposal to ration households’ water allocations.

Queensland Water Minister Craig Wallace told the Queensland Parliament today that low-income groups would be hurt by the plan, which would allow households to sell any water they don’t use to heavy water users.

The proposal by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Water Malcolm Turnbull says households using more than their ration would have to pay for extra.

Mr Turnbull also believes urban water is too cheap and should rise by up to 33 per cent.

“Queenslanders did not come down in the last shower,” Mr Wallace said.

“We will not have a bar of this grab for our water,” he said.

“Low income groups, including the elderly, will struggle to pay for increasingly expensive water.

“They may try to save money by selling their water – at the expense of their health.”

Mr Wallace said, in contrast, the wealthy would be able to buy up other households’ allocations and could pay for extra water.

“This will give us water-haves and water-have-nots,” he said.

Mr Wallace told Parliament that Malcolm Turnbull wanted to give water to the highest bidder, including big corporations and multi-millionaires like himself.

“The low-income Olivers will be left holding out their water buckets saying: “Please Sir, I want more.”

Mr Wallace said Mr Turnbull, a former merchant banker, wanted to corporatise water, to make it a tradeable commodity.

“In contrast, the Beattie Government believes water is a necessity of life and everyone should have equal access to it.

“The Howard Government has stolen our work rights: it will not be allowed to steal our water rights.

“The Beattie Government will stand up for Queensland families and their rights to water,” Mr Wallace said.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.