Nick McKim, Press Release
“Tasmania’s drinking water quality under Labor is unacceptable, and Paul Lennon must accept that the state government has a responsibility to offer financial assistance to local government to help improve drinking water quality.”
The Mercury report: Water unfit to drink
MEDIA RELEASE
Nick McKim MHA
Friday, 28 JULY 2006
GOVERNMENT MUST ASSIST LOCAL COUNCILS TO IMPROVE DRINKING WATER
The Tasmanian Greens today called on the State government to offer financial assistance to local councils to improve drinking water quality, particularly in regional Tasmania.
Greens Shadow Water spokesperson Nick McKim MHA accused Labor of sitting and watching while Tasmania’s drinking water infrastructure continued to degrade due to inadequate maintenance and capital investment.
“Tasmania’s drinking water quality under Labor is unacceptable, and Paul Lennon must accept that the state government has a responsibility to offer financial assistance to local government to help improve drinking water quality.”
“Smaller regional municipalities have not got a rate-base big enough to effectively maintain drinking water quality, which means that the current unacceptable situation will continue unless the state government steps in.”
“The Greens’ 2005/06 Alternative State Budget showed that it would have been possible to allocate $5m last financial year to help Councils improve water quality and remove boil water notices.”
“It is unacceptable that visitors to the supposed clean green state cannot get a safe drink of water from the tap in nearly thirty towns,” Mr McKim said.
