Published Thursday, 22 February, 2007 at 01:38 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
LIBERALS ROLLED ON PURIFIED RECYCLED WATER
Premier Peter Beattie said the Queensland Coalition had stumbled at the first hurdle today, when it failed to support the provision of purified recycled water to supplement South East Queensland’s dams.
“The Liberal leader has been over-ruled on this vital issue,” Mr Beattie said.
“Just two short months ago the Liberal leader was publicly supporting the use of purified recycled water not just for industry, but to ensure we have plentiful supplies of drinking water.
“Yet today he fell into line after being over-ruled by the National Party.
“If that’s what ‘speaking with one-voice‘ means it is hard to see why the Liberal Party continues to exist.
“Surely on an issue as important as this the Liberal leader could have found the courage to stick by his position.
“Instead we’ve seen him fall into line with the National Party which wants to continue its baseless scaremongering against this sensible, widely supported source of water.
“As the House heard, purified recycled water has been used for decades around the world.
“The high-tech, multiple treatment process which will be used in South East Queensland will produce safe, clean water that eases our dependence on our increasingly irregular rain fall.
“It is disappointing that the Coalition has decided to vote against what is a safe and well established process which will play a vital role in securing the water supplies for South East Queenslanders for decades to come.”
Thursday February 22, 2007
For more information:
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
“The Liberal leader has been over-ruled on this vital issue,” Mr Beattie said.
“Just two short months ago the Liberal leader was publicly supporting the use of purified recycled water not just for industry, but to ensure we have plentiful supplies of drinking water.
“Yet today he fell into line after being over-ruled by the National Party.
“If that’s what ‘speaking with one-voice‘ means it is hard to see why the Liberal Party continues to exist.
“Surely on an issue as important as this the Liberal leader could have found the courage to stick by his position.
“Instead we’ve seen him fall into line with the National Party which wants to continue its baseless scaremongering against this sensible, widely supported source of water.
“As the House heard, purified recycled water has been used for decades around the world.
“The high-tech, multiple treatment process which will be used in South East Queensland will produce safe, clean water that eases our dependence on our increasingly irregular rain fall.
“It is disappointing that the Coalition has decided to vote against what is a safe and well established process which will play a vital role in securing the water supplies for South East Queenslanders for decades to come.”
Thursday February 22, 2007
For more information:
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500