Tony Abbott won't guarantee Adelaide's water supply
Penny Wong
posted Wednesday, 28 July 2010
The Liberal-National Coalition has signalled it won’t support desalination and stormwater infrastructure projects to secure Adelaide’s water supply.
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water, Simon Birmingham, today attacked the Gillard Labor Government’s commitment to urban water investments.
Senator Birmingham needs to be absolutely clear.
- Would Tony Abbott stop investment in the Adelaide desalination plant and risk Adelaide’s water supply?
- Would Tony Abbott stop the investment in stormwater projects like Waterproofing Eastern Adelaide, announced by the Prime Minister today, and let precious rain run out to sea?
With 24 days to go until the election, Tony Abbott has no water security policy.
What we know is that Tony Abbott would:
- Abolish the independent Murray Darling Basin Authority and go back to parochial control of water by the National Party.
- Deliver less water to the rivers and sites like the Lower Lakes.
The Gillard Government has already delivered $60 million of our $328 million commitment to the desalination plant, and invested in 30 stormwater harvest and reuse projects across Adelaide.
These projects will deliver three-quarters of Adelaide’s water supply.
But a Liberal-National Coalition risks taking us back to the days of the Howard Government when there was no investment in water security.
Tags: Abbott, Adelaide, Birmingham, desalination, Penny, security, Simon, stormwater, Tony, water, Wong