A court hearing which could lead to the release of explosive information about projections on water availability for the north-south pipeline will go ahead today despite Brumby Government delaying tactics and intimidation of a Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition staff member.
Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan made an FOI request to Melbourne Water in April 2008 for documents it is believed show the water savings the government assumed would be available from the Goulburn Murray Food Bowl Modernisation Project to supply Melbourne.
“This request comes amid claims by senior government water officials that the north-south pipeline could deliver as little as 10 gigalitres of water, not the previously guaranteed 75 gigalitres in 2011,” Mr Ryan said.
“Ever since the FOI request was first made the government has used every stalling tactic possible to prevent the release of this important public information, including further delaying the VCAT hearing without explanation last month.
“Melbourne Water threatened a member of my staff with criminal contempt proceedings only to later drop the threat when our legal representatives put them to the test.”
Mr Ryan said the concept of a government authority intimidating an opposition staff member for its own purposes was totally unacceptable.
“The Coalition refused to be deterred by the atrocious tactics this government employed,” Mr Ryan said.
“These proceedings may well expose crucial information which shows the folly of the north-south pipeline which will cost Melbourne Water ratepayers $750 million for what is likely to be a white elephant.”
Mr Ryan said the government’s own misgivings on the pipeline’s prospects were highlighted when the Premier changed his tune after a long-standing promise to Victorians that 225 billion litres of water would be delivered through stage one of the Food Bowl Modernisation Project.
“We’ve got some projections about that – it depends whether those projections are achieved … they could go over, they could go under.” John Brumby (23 April ABC online)
“This is reflective of a government with something to hide and it is another sorry chapter of an all too familiar saga of secrecy and cover-ups in the Brumby Government,” Mr Ryan said.
Media contact: Sonia Heath (03) 9651 8526
