Transcript: Doorstop Interview
Penny Wong
posted Tuesday, 27 July 2010
E & O E – PROOF ONLY
Subjects: Local Water Announcements; Q&A; Emissions standards for coal-fired power stations; Murray Darling Basin
WONG: Thanks very much for coming. It’s great to be here with my good friend Sharryn Jackson, the member for Hasluck, and Tim Hammond, our candidate for Swan. Sharryn is an outstanding representative for Western Australia in the Federal Parliament. I am sure Tim will be too if the electors choose to put him into the seat and send him to Canberra.
I am here today to make a couple of announcements on water. I want to first start by talking about cost of living. We are very aware in the Gillard Government of the pressures that families face on the cost of living front. We are very concerned to ensure that our policies do what we can to alleviate those cost of living pressures. This of course is in stark contrast to Mr Abbott who is still peddling an increase in the tax rate to Coles and Woolies and other big companies. But particularly think about Coles and Woolies, those two companies, increased tax rates. What will that mean? Higher prices for everyday products, everyday goods that families buy at the supermarket. It just shows that Mr Abbott can’t be trusted when it comes to the economy to make sensible decisions for Australian families.
One of the areas where we know people do face cost of living pressures is in the area of utilities. As Water Minister, around Australia I have seen many communities in which households are trying to use water more wisely because it does two things. One is that it takes the pressure off the water bills. But also it is good for the environment.
So one the projects that I am announcing today is the Perth Residential Efficiency Project. The Federal Government will co-fund this project, which will do a number of things to help Perth households reduce their water use; reducing their impact on the environment and helping keeping downward pressure on their water bills. This project will benefit Perth families by exchanging 74,000 inefficient shower heads for low flow efficient shower heads. We will role out an audit and retro fit 4000 households to repair leaks, to make fixtures more efficient and to identify practical ways to use less water. We want to enable 10,000 households to take part in a water education program.
So this is a program that is good for saving water and good for the environment. But also good in terms of trying to reduce the amount of water you use and therefore your water bill. This is a particular issue here in Perth. We know that the projections around Perth’s water supply do show a risk of reduction not just today but in the years to come. We know that since the mid 1970s,water flowing into Perth’s water supply catchments has decreased by about 50%. We know that the CSIRO have predicted further reductions in the years ahead. So we have to use water more wisely. And we have to reduce pressure on families’ water bills.
So this is an announcement, this is a project, that’s about helping Western Australian families use less water. Good for the environment. Good for their household bills.
I am also announcing today further funding for a Subiaco water savings project. We will be supporting the in-plant water recycling project which means that the Subiaco wastewater treatment plant will use recycled water instead of potable water. That will make the plant more efficient. Just another one of the ways in which we are seeking to invest in water projects here in Western Australia, in communities around Australia as part of our sustainable population approach, as part of our that is about ensuring water security into the future. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: How will houses be chosen? Who will be eligible for this, for these benefits?
WONG: Well, as I said, it’s a number of households. This is actually a project co-funded by the West Australian Government, managed by the Water Corporation of WA. It will start soon and they will determine how households are selected.
JOURNALIST: How big an issue is water conservation?
WONG: I think using water wisely and using less water is a very big issue. I’ve been Water Minister for a couple of years now. We funded some 160 projects around Australia - urban water projects. Different communities in different parts of Australia, whether it’s WA, whether it’s on the East Coast or in my home state of South Australia. These are projects where local communities are working their way through the challenge of water security, facing up to the risk of less water in the years ahead and also trying to reduce pressure on household budgets.
JOURNALIST: You said it was co-funded by the State Government. How much is the Federal Government putting into the project?
WONG: We’re providing $2.4 million in terms of the first project. I think it’s $2.5 million in relation to the second project. So it’s matched funding.
JOURNALIST: Were you encouraged last night by Graham Richardson coming out so strongly in support of you on gay marriage on Q&A last night?
WONG: (Laughs) I think Richo is a famous Labor stalwart and he’s entertaining. I don’t always agree with everything he says but he certainly was vintage Richo last night.
JOURNALIST: He did say it was better to have you in Caucus fighting on these issues than not. I mean, is that right? How difficult is it for you?
WONG: Look, can I say I’ve made quite a number of comments on this issue. I appreciate your interest but I’m here today to talk about using water wisely here in Western Australia.
JOURNALIST: One last question…
WONG: (laughs) You can have another go …
JOURNALIST: He was saying there are people within the Party, some old blokes who were opposed to gay marriage. And maybe someone like you there to help fight that is a good thing.
WONG: Well as I said, I made quite a number of comments last night and previously. I think today what I want to focus on is how we reduce water usage and how we use water more wisely here in WA.
Tags: Darling, Emissions, Murray, Wong