The shouting match

Sue Neales Mercury
A SHOUTING match has erupted in the Legislative Council over stinging attacks by the State government on local councils. Independent Legislative Council member and former Glenorchy mayor Terry Martin wanted to know why the Government had recently accused Glenorchy and Hobart city councils of “price-gouging”, profiteering and making a “grab for cash” during the heated water and sewerage debate. Mr Martin said Treasurer Michael Aird, Premier David Bartlett and government Upper House leader Doug Parkinson had all engaged in similar “appalling attacks” on local government during the past fortnight. … More yelling broke out when Mr Aird was asked to justify paying the part-time chairman of the new water corporation, Geoff Willis, being paid $135,000 a year for working one day a week. Mr Aird this question from Windermere MLC Ivan Dean was improperly maligning Mr Willis. With $2 billion of infrastructure being managed by the three new water commissions and an annual turnover of $200,000 , Mr Aird being chairman was a “serious job” that had to be properly remunerated. “This is a cheap shot,” Mr Aird raged. Read more here