TURNBULL CAUGHT OUT STEALING HANSON POLICIES

August 16, 2007

Claims by Malcolm Turnbull that Queensland households risked losing control of the rainwater that fell on their roofs were lifted from Pauline Hanson’s policies, Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today.

Ms Bligh said the Environment and Water Resources Minister made the “laughable” claims during an attack on Labor leader Kevin Rudd in Federal Parliament this week.

“Malcolm Turnbull has been rummaging through the policies of Pauline Hanson to beat up a scare campaign,” Ms Bligh said.

“He knows that the State Government has rejected this proposal many times.

“When I first heard Pauline Hanson suggest the great rooftop conspiracy I laughed. But to hear the Liberal Party promoting these bizarre conspiracies show how desperate Howard and his ministers have become.

“Is Pauline Hanson driving policy in Malcolm Turnbull’s department?”

Ms Bligh said Ms Hanson’s conspiracy theory about the Government seizing control of the rainwater that fell on household roofs was contained on her website www.paulinehanson.com.au/messages-06.06.php.

She said that the State Government had absolutely no plans to take control of household water tanks or charge for the water in them.

“Mr Turnbull is being wildly irresponsible in spreading this rubbish and he owes the people of Queensland an apology,” she said.

“Let me make it crystal clear. The Beattie Government will not be taking charge of household rainwater tanks. We won’t be charging people for using their own tankwater. No amount of nonsense from Malcolm Turnbull will change this.”

More information: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 5982/0448 614420