Michael Aird in the …

Sue Neales Mercury Comment
Treasurer Michael Aird has admitted water prices are likely to rise by 10 per cent or an average $62-a-year for each of the next three years once the new water corporations take over water and sewerage management from July. But Mr Aird, who only released his proposed water costings this week under pressure from councils who need to prepare their 2009-10 budgets, appears desperate not to become caught in the gathering storm about water price hikes. After ducking for cover when news about the water executives’ remuneration broke last weekend, it was hard not to conclude Mr Aird was more worried about the impact of talking about hefty new water bills on his own re-election chances, than about their effect on the hip pockets of struggling families. Mr Aird faces the voters of the Derwent Valley, Bridgewater and Gagebrook on May 2, seeking to remain their Upper House member for another six-year term. After an almost-continuous 30 years sitting in the Tasmanian Parliament — the past three as Treasurer earning more than $200,000 a year — Mr Aird fears his job as the government miser tightly holding the state’s purse strings may have harmed his popularity. Read more here