Greens call for two-part pricing for water and sewerage

Greens water spokesperson Tim Morris says there needs to be a two-part pricing system for water and sewerage

GREENS CALL FOR TWO-PART PRICING FOR WATER & SEWERAGE

Tim Morris MP
Greens Water Spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the tabling of the report by the Select Committee into the Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Corporations, saying the priority now needs to be the implementation of a two-part pricing system.

Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP, who was the Greens’ representative on the Select Committee, said it’s clear that a two-part pricing system can be introduced in a fair and equitable way without price shocks, and warned that this reform should not be put at risk by any sudden moves to change the number of Water Corporations.

“The Greens believe that a fair and equitable two-part pricing process can be introduced in a manner that minimises price shocks,” Mr Morris said.

“A two-part pricing system would ensure equity for low income households, and we cannot afford to have this goal potentially derailed by revisiting the current structure of the Water Corporation pre-emptively.”

“Once we have secured this important equity reform, which should be in place by the middle of this year, then it would be appropriate to commence discussions with local government over any proposed restructure of the current Water Corporations.”

“Getting this sequence wrong will waste much of the resources sunk into the current reforms as well as leaving Tasmanians worse off.”

“Former Labor Governments have badly bungled water and sewerage reform, and the report today has validated the Greens’ previous warnings on the management of this important infrastructure reforms,” Mr Morris said.