I’m absolutely astounded that Mr Downie has the gall to issue a media release about lower prices for TasWater customers when he, representing the 29 councils that own TasWater, proposed a 30 per cent price increase over the next six years, increasing by five per cent per annum.
Mr Downie should be embarrassed at his own hypocrisy given that nearly $180 million has been taken out of TasWater by local councils, money which has come straight from the pockets of TasWater’s customers, and is one of the reasons why TasWater price rises have been so high under local council ownership.
The reason why TasWater is such a mess is because TasWater has been treated by local councils as an ATM first and an infrastructure provider second.
One of the main reasons why the Government is proposing to take over TasWater is because local councils have failed to be responsible owners and continue to take returns when the infrastructure they manage is failing faster than they can replace it.
We will provide lower prices than under the current plan, we will legislate for ongoing returns to compensate the councils so that rates don’t need to rise and we will use the strength of our financial position and the resources of government, to fix the infrastructure sooner. Our record speaks for itself – under the Hodgman Government power prices have reduced by more than two per cent.
Under local council ownership –
Our Plan is supported by TasCOSS, the TICT, the TCCI, the Property Council, Master Builders Association, developers, businesses and the broader Tasmanian community, who are sick and tired of third world water and sewerage infrastructure in Tasmania.
My clear message to Mr Downie is that he should stop defending the indefensible and allow the Government to get on and fix this problem.