Labor has once again revealed that it is in total confusion over TasWater and our proposal to fix water and sewerage infrastructure sooner and at a lower cost for Tasmanians.
Today I revealed in Question Time that the deputy Labor leader Michele O’Byrne wrote to me in July regarding water charges for a George Town property owner.
Why would Ms O’Byrne write to me and ask me to fix a TasWater problem unless she agrees that the Hodgman Liberal Government is best placed to fix Tasmania’s water and sewerage problems.
Clearly Ms O’Byrne and Labor already think that we run TasWater, so on that basis we are looking forward to Ms O’Byrne’s support on the floor of Parliament when our legislation is introduced.
By taking over TasWater, the Tasmanian Government will be able to keep water and sewerage prices lower and update failing sewerage infrastructure faster.
Many towns in regional Tasmania are supplied with water that is not fit to drink, and our sewerage infrastructure does not meet environmental standards. In the words of both TasWater’s Chairman, and the Tasmanian Economic Regulator, the infrastructure is deteriorating faster than it can be fixed.
These outcomes are why we are taking control – and those who oppose it have yet to make a coherent case for the status quo.
What’s more, councils will continue to receive the returns they expected under TasWater’s plan, so there will be no reason for rates to rise.
Tasmanians deserve decent water and sewerage infrastructure, and they deserve it faster and at a price that households can afford.
Councils and TasWater have had their chance and they have failed to deliver.
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