Councils have no intention of backing off on TasWater

TASMANIA’S longest serving Mayor says the majority of Tasmanians Councils will not back down in their defence of TasWater, despite the call by Treasurer Peter Gutwein to get out of the way of the State Government’s and allow his forced takeover.

Brighton Mayor Tony Foster said Mr Gutwein’s latest call, backed by his friendly “in-house” report from Infrastructure Tasmania, was just the latest in the Treasurer’s stand-over campaign against local government.

“TasWater is owned by Tasmania’s 29 councils and continues to operate efficiently and effectively. Mr Gutwein’s slick, but grossly inadequate takeover offer has been firmly rejected by TasWater’s owners and senior legal advice has also questioned the legality of the Government’s move.

“We firmly believe that the professional and independent Board and expert management and staff are best able to manage and deliver Tasmania’s water and sewerage services.

“So, I for one will not be standing aside to allow Mr Gutwein to get his greedy fingers on TasWater’s balance sheet.”

Cr Foster said the Treasurer should be ashamed of some of the statements he had made to justify his hostile takeover bid.

“For him and others in the Government to describe our water and sewerage services as Third World is disgraceful and patently untrue.

“Has the Treasurer ever visited a Third World country where people have to trek for kilometres to collect water and where raw sewerage runs down the streets? That is the Third World.

“His comments are an insult to all Tasmanians as well as to the excellent people who are delivering our water and sewerage services and working hard to upgrade our infrastructure.

“Yes, some services are in need of improvement and this is happening under TasWater’s responsibly funded program.

“It seems that nothing will get in the Mr Gutwein’s way in his quest to seize our water and sewerage assets.

“Gross exaggerations, misleading claims and statements, doubtful promises, slick figures and questionable reports are all par for the course for the Treasurer.

“Brighton, like the overwhelming majority of Tasmanian Councils, is unconvinced, so we will not be ‘getting out of the way’ and allowing his power grab to go unchallenged,” Cr Foster said.
Brighton Mayor Tony Foster