Did Labor even ask for Rudd infrastructure funds for water/sewerage?

· When Labor embarked on its water and sewerage changes, it was banking on federal government support for infrastructure investment

· Where is it? Did the government even ask for funds as part of Kevin Rudd’s recent mega-spending infrastructure funding packages?

· Ratepayers now being asked to foot massive bills as a result of more Labor bungling

It’s time the State Labor Government revealed whether it even applied for the federal funding that it expected to underpin the infrastructure investment required as part of water and sewerage reforms.

When the State Government first contemplated water and sewerage reforms, in its discussion paper it said,

Reform of Tasmania’s water and sewerage sector needs to be consistent with the State’s obligations under the National Water Initiative. Reform outcomes would ideally ensure Tasmania is in the best position to access the Australian Government Water Fund.

Prior to the 2007 federal election, the State Government urged then Water Minister, Malcolm Turnbull to back the reforms financially.

But since the election of the Rudd Labor Government, and as these changes gathered speed, the State Government appears to have gone completely quiet.

In Question Time today, the Treasurer said there was no federal funding – or State funding for that matter – to support the reforms.

Given that billions have been splurged in infrastructure stimulus packages in recent times by the Federal Government, he needs to clarify exactly what the government sought for water and sewerage reforms, and if it failed, why.

Surely this is not another rail fiasco, where the government failed to even ask for a cent for our ailing infrastructure as part of a $22 billion federal government infrastructure spend?

As a result of the State Government’s failure to secure the federal funding it was banking on when it started this reform process, ratepayers are now unfairly being expected to pick up the tab.

For residents of Launceston, Dorset, Sorell, Southern Midlands and Northern Midlands, they’re facing an increase of around 100% in water and sewerage charges to meet full cost recovery.

This is all further evidence of the government comprehensively bungling the water and sewerage changes and it heightens the need for an urgent independent review of the whole Labor water and sewerage mess.
Peter Gutwein MP Shadow Treasurer