Report finds takeover unlikely to result in efficient use of water infrastructure
Hodgman Government actively backtracking on important reform
Gutwein takes extraordinary step of disagreeing with independent authority
The Hodgman Government’s hostile takeover of TasWater has again been exposed as deeply flawed in a report by the Productivity Commission.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Bacon said the Commission report showed the government’s plan to assume control of TasWater would result in a backtracking on important National Water Initiative reforms.
Mr Bacon said it was astonishing that Treasurer Peter Gutwein would say the Productivity Commission was wrong immediately after the report was released.
“The Productivity Commission is the most respected and independent authority on economic reform in the country,” Mr Bacon said.
“It has confirmed that the Treasurer’s TasWater takeover is all about politics and not about the long term interests of Tasmania.
“The report makes several critical findings of Mr Gutwein’s hostile plan, importantly that he is ‘backtracking on reform’ in direct contradiction to the National Water Initiative which has been signed off by each of the states and territories and the Federal Government.
“It’s now clearer than ever that the Hodgman Government’s plan is damaging to water reform.
“In fact the Productivity Commission is sending a clear message that the takeover is not in Tasmania’s best interests and will constrain the role of the independent economic regulator and have an impact on the efficient delivery of services.
“The Hodgman Government should be going forward with water reform, not taking the state backwards.
“Mr Gutwein knows this, Mr Hodgman knows this and they should stop trying to wrongly convince Tasmanians otherwise.”
Scott Bacon MP Shadow Treasurer
