Published Sunday, 04 February, 2007 at 12:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
FEDERAL POWERS UP THE CREEK WITHOUT STATE COOPERATION
A Murray-Darling solution will come from cooperation, not a bullied imposition from Canberra, Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Mr Beattie said he had sought legal advice and Commonwealth control of the Murray-Darling basin would not be easily attained without State cooperation.
“The Prime Minister and his new Water Minister, Malcolm Turnbull need to listen to the Premiers rather than talk at us,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Commonwealth’s ability to legislate over the basin is limited unless the States refer power, yet Mr Howard continues to keep the detail of his national water reform to himself.
“We are keen to work with him to find a practical, workable way forward in managing this essential resource, but to-date we are still waiting for the details he promised.
“For this to work there needs to be cooperation between the Commonwealth and
the States, and for cooperation to occur – we need answers to the questions we’re asking.”
Ms Bligh said: “Without State cooperation, the Commonwealth’s ability to regulate is extremely limited.
“For example, they could seize control of the minor proportion of water trade that crosses State borders and the water entitlements that are held by financial and trading corporations, but this will achieve nothing in the long-term management of this vital river system.
“The answer is cooperation Mr Howard, not rhetoric.”
Water Minister Craig Wallace urged the Prime Minister to accept Queensland’s
request to convene an urgent meeting with the States.
“The sooner we begin discussions about the Federal Government’s proposed
national water reform, the closer we get to a solution,” he said.
Media contact: 0448 757 086
Mr Beattie said he had sought legal advice and Commonwealth control of the Murray-Darling basin would not be easily attained without State cooperation.
“The Prime Minister and his new Water Minister, Malcolm Turnbull need to listen to the Premiers rather than talk at us,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Commonwealth’s ability to legislate over the basin is limited unless the States refer power, yet Mr Howard continues to keep the detail of his national water reform to himself.
“We are keen to work with him to find a practical, workable way forward in managing this essential resource, but to-date we are still waiting for the details he promised.
“For this to work there needs to be cooperation between the Commonwealth and
the States, and for cooperation to occur – we need answers to the questions we’re asking.”
Ms Bligh said: “Without State cooperation, the Commonwealth’s ability to regulate is extremely limited.
“For example, they could seize control of the minor proportion of water trade that crosses State borders and the water entitlements that are held by financial and trading corporations, but this will achieve nothing in the long-term management of this vital river system.
“The answer is cooperation Mr Howard, not rhetoric.”
Water Minister Craig Wallace urged the Prime Minister to accept Queensland’s
request to convene an urgent meeting with the States.
“The sooner we begin discussions about the Federal Government’s proposed
national water reform, the closer we get to a solution,” he said.
Media contact: 0448 757 086