The Tasmanian Greens today called on Treasurer Michael Aird to guarantee that if the Water and Sewerage Corporations are successful in their applications for Federal Government grants for the installation of water meters, the Treasurer will reduce the massive price rises for water and sewerage that are currently proposed for the next two years.

Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP said the Treasurer must guarantee that he won’t ‘double-dip’ into the pockets of Tasmanians, and commit to reducing the predicted price rises for water and sewerage services if the Corporations are successful in their water meter grant applications.

“After being questioned on this issue in Parliament last week by the Greens, Treasurer Aird confirmed that the Corporations will be applying for grants to install water meters, but he has failed several times to also guarantee that the predicted price rises for water and sewerage services over the next two years will be reduced if these grant applications are successful,” said Mr Morris.

“The Bartlett Government has repeatedly failed to maximise its opportunities to secure Federal Government funding in recent times and this must not be allowed to happen again, which is why I first raised this possibility in the Parliament last week.”

“Federal Government funds for the installation of water meters have not been factored into the income stream for the new Corporations, so any successful bid for funds should automatically reduce all water and sewerage charges.”

“Instead of wasting taxpayer’s funds on unnecessary advertising, the Treasurer should do his sums and let Tasmanians know how much they will save if the Water and Sewerage Corporations are successful in their applications for water meter installation,” said Mr Morris.

Hansard (Uncorrected Proof) of question to Treasurer Michael Aird from Greens Water Spokesperson Tim Morris, 7 October 2009:

WATER – NATIONAL WATER SECURITY PLAN
[10.53 a.m.]
MR MORRIS – My question is to the Treasurer. Are you aware that on the weekend the Australian Government advertised for urban water providers and State governments to apply for funding under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns to support projects that will improve urban water security through water saving initiatives that reduce demand on potable water supplies?

Are you further aware that this round of grants will provide up to $10 million for each project and will you agree that installing water meters on every property that currently does not have them totally fits within the scope of this program? Is it not a fact that installing water meters will allow for the significant saving of water and thus reduce costs to the corporations for pumping and treatment? Given that the corporations have collective income of about $100 million, is it also not a fact that if you are to secure about $20 million or more from the Federal Government, it is likely price rises could be reduced?

Treasurer, will you guarantee that high-quality applications are made by the water corporations to access as much money as possible from this grant source and will you, if successful, reconsider the price rises that you
have presently locked in for the next two years so as to reduce the price shocks that are currently being felt by water consumers?

Mr AIRD- It is a good suggestion. I thank the member for his question …

[Available at: http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/
Uncorrected/isysquery/
76ab8c04-7490-436f-a18e-fcd606f65530/2/doc/ ]
Tim Morris MP Greens Water Spokesperson