On Saturday Tania Rattray defeated three candidates to extend her twelve-year reign as the member for Apsley in the Legislative Council.
Tania Rattray spoke in favour of the reporting of all drinking water data, and in real-time:
‘I support all data, in real-time, being available to Taswater customers.’
The electorate of Apsley has all five of Tasmania’s lead-contaminated drinking water systems – Pioneer, Winnaleah, Rossarden, Whitemark and Avoca.
On April 27, the CEO of TasWater, Mr. Mike Brewster, wrote a letter to the North-Eastern Advertiser, stating his view that the reporting of all drinking water data , and in real-time, is:
‘…unnecessary, impractical and does not make our drinking water any safer’.
TasWater proposes to publish notifiable data (limited data), on a quarterly (three-monthly) basis.
Tania Rattray’s positive statement joins the chorus of support from the Tasmanian Greens and the Tasmanian Labor Party – Andrea Dawkins, Bryan Green and Scott Bacon.
Tania Rattray, when asked by a resident of Pioneer if she will support a parliamentary inquiry into TasWater, said:
‘I would certainly consider supporting this process. The terms of reference for an inquiry would need to be carefully considered and compiled to enable an inquiry to receive the necessary support to be established.’
As the member for Apsley, Tania Rattray’s voice may be crucial to progressing data transparency and water governance reform for all Tasmanians.
Time will tell…
Tim Slade lives in Pioneer, Tasmania. Tim’s many articles about drinking water in Tasmania can be found in the archives of Tasmanian Times.
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Ahead of the election two questions were sent to members contesting the seat of Apsley.
Q 1.) Are you in favour of the reporting of all drinking water data, and in real-time? (Yes or No)
Q 2.) Will you support a parliamentary inquiry into TasWater? (Yes or No)
BRETT Hall (Independent):
Q1.) ‘YES – We live in a digital age and the TasWater claim that providing real-time reporting is too costly, doesn’t hold water. The raw data is already captured from their existing water testing regime. It should be a relatively simple exercise to transfer this information to their website for access by the public.’
Q2.) ‘YES – The lack of transparency is one of the many reasons I am calling for a full review of TasWater operations and charges since its inception.’
DARREN Clark (Labor):
Q1.) ‘YES – All data should be available in real-time.’
Q2.) ‘I will support looking at ways to develop a better and open water authority, however other inquiries have had too wide a scope. I would support a narrow scope on drinking water issues.’
SOPHIE Houghton (Tasmanian Greens):
Q1.) ‘YES’.
Q2.) ‘Conditional YES – the inquiry really needs to extend to all water resources in Tasmania, not just TasWater.’
