BARNABY JOYCE MUST STAND UP FOR QUEENSLAND IRRIGATORS IN MEETING WITH TURNBULL

Queensland Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce must stand up for Queensland irrigators this week when he discusses the auction of water from the Warrego with Commonwealth Water Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Queensland Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said Barnaby Joyce was missing in action last week when Mr Turnbull insisted that Queensland delay the auction.

“The NSW National Party was successful in lobbying Malcolm Turnbull to oppose the auction because the Queensland Federal and State Nationals were nowhere to be seen,” Mr Wallace said.

“They sold Queensland irrigators down the river,” he said.

“Queensland irrigators are now concerned that the Commonwealth can overturn Queensland water planning at any time.

“Barnaby Joyce must get a commitment from Malcolm Turnbull that Queensland water plans will not be changed every time the NSW National Party says they should be.”

Queensland has been highly critical of the Commonwealth’s on-again, off-again policy on the proposal to auction 8000 megalitres from the Warrego River.

Premier Anna Bligh late last week reluctantly agreed to delay the auction of the water for two weeks after a request from Malcolm Turnbull.

Premier Bligh has written to the Prime Minister John Howard asking for a clarification of his position on the sale after the Prime Minister gave unequivocal approval for it to proceed earlier this year.

Mr Wallace said he was puzzled by a statement by Mr Turnbull, reported in the weekend media, that Mr Turnbull had “always” opposed the auction.

That statement is contradicted by a unanimous decision by the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council on May 25 to approve Queensland water planning for the Warrego, including the auction of the 8000ML. The Ministerial Council is headed by Malcolm Turnbull.

Also, in a statement in the House of Representatives on August 8, in his second reading speech on the Water Bill 2007, Mr Turnbull said: “The Bill will honour existing State water plans – including any subsidiary instruments such as resource operations plans in Queensland.”

Mr Wallace said Queensland Nationals including Barnaby Joyce, Ron Boswell, Bruce Scott, Howard Hobbs and Ray Hopper had been conspicuous by their absence on the Warrego auction issue.

“With friends like the Queensland Nationals, Queensland irrigators do not need enemies,” Mr Wallace said.

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