The Government will defer the TasWater takeover vote, currently scheduled for the next sitting of the Legislative Council in mid-October, until after the Pembroke by-election.
Dr Vanessa Goodwin's resignation means that the Legislative Council is now operating a seat down, and we will lose our pairing arrangements with Labor because you can't pair a vacant seat.
In addition, there’s no doubt the TasWater takeover will be one of the fundamental issues in the upcoming Pembroke by-election.
As a result, I am of the view that it is appropriate to defer the TasWater vote until after that election is held on 4 November.
There’s a clear choice for the people of Pembroke in the coming by-election. If they support the Liberal candidate, James Walker, they will be voting for lower water and sewerage prices.
A vote for any other candidate is a vote for higher water and sewerage prices.