John Brumby has refused to acknowledge sworn evidence by Labor’s senior water bureaucrat that the government’s decision to proceed with construction of the north-south pipeline was based on flawed assumptions.
Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said the Premier’s claims that 225 billion litres of ‘new water’ would be available each year from the north-south pipeline had clearly been exposed as false.
“General Manager of the Office of Water Mr David Downie last week swore before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that Labor’s basic assumptions about water savings from the pipeline have ‘now proven to be wrong’,” Mr Ryan said.
“In Question Time today, I asked the Premier who was right – David Downie, or the Premier?
“John Brumby refused to answer the question, arrogantly dismissing overwhelming evidence – including that of senior water authority figures – proving that the $750 million north-south pipeline is nothing but a white elephant.
“The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition supports the Food Bowl Modernisation project, but any water savings derived from the project should be left north of the divide to be shared between the environment and irrigators.”
Mr Ryan said tribunal evidence in the freedom-of-information case by the Victorian Coalition at VCAT also revealed Labor’s decision to proceed with construction of the pipeline in June 2007 was made without any financial justification.
“Mr Downie swore before VCAT that the green light was given to the Food Bowl Modernisation project without the business plan which would normally be required for projects of this magnitude,” Mr Ryan said.
“The Brumby Government has had almost ten years and $300 billion in revenue, yet it is forcing all Victorians to pay the price for Labor’s mistakes and its failure to plan for Melbourne’s future water needs.
“The Premier refuses to consider alternative water supply options and instead is arrogantly pushing ahead with his pipeline folly even though there is simply not enough water available in the Goulburn River to pump any to Melbourne,” Mr Ryan said.
Media contact: Sonia Heath (03) 9651 8526
