Treasurer reverts to selective quotes and personal attacks to cover up his own failures

TasWater’s Chairman Miles Hampton says it is disappointing the Treasurer Peter Gutwein has chosen to engage in personal attacks and selective quotations in his attempt to deflect attention from the facts surrounding his attempted takeover of the State’s water and sewerage business.
“As Chairman of the local government-owned business, all I am doing is defending the organisation against the unfair attacks on its operations and performance and pointing out the flaws and deficiencies in the State Government’s plan,” Mr Hampton said.
“For the Treasurer to engage in personal attacks under the protection of parliament is unbecoming of a Minister of the Crown and a demonstration that the Government’s bid is based on politics and not on any desire to improve our water and sewerage services.
“All I have done is present the facts so that our shareholders, the Tasmanian councils, and indeed all Tasmanians understand the ramifications of the State Government’s ill-considered plan.”
Mr Hampton said the letter quoted by the Treasurer in parliament related to a request for funding to upgrade the State’s water and sewerage infrastructure made prior to the last Federal election.
“However, Mr Gutwein refused to assist and failed to secure any Commonwealth funding.
“As a result, TasWater developed an alternate strategy based on internal funding, modest tariff increases and reduced distributions to our owner councils. We announced this in August 2016, coincidently receiving congratulations from Mr Gutwein!
“This is the strategy we are working on now and it is a plan that does not burden Tasmanians with an additional $600 million of debt as proposed by the Government.
“That additional $600 million debt under the Government’s plan is absolutely unnecessary and is equivalent to $3000 for every Tasmanian household. This will have to be repaid with interest, if not now, then by future generations.
“Add on the $160 million payment to councils out of the State Budget and that means fewer resources for hospitals and health services, schools, police, roadworks and other essential community services.”
Mr Hampton said his comments of May last year reflected the situation at that time and the desire to gain Commonwealth funding. My current comments reflect the situation now and the failure of Mr Gutwein to provide or secure any funding support.
TasWater