Report backlash

Friday, July 30, 2010

Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has been accused of cowardly politics by Member for Rodney Paul Weller.

Mr Weller moved a notice of motion in the Victorian Parliament this week condemning the minister for refusing to release the Murray Darling Authority Sustainable Diversions Limits report until after the August 21 election.

``This report's proposals could have a dramatic effect on irrigators and farmers throughout northern Victoria and to withhold the information for political reasons is both cowardly and grossly unfair,'' Mr Weller said.

He said the Murray Darling Basin Authority had claimed that because the government was in ``caretaker election mode'', it could not release the report.

``Quite clearly there are proposals in that report that the minister does not want voting Australians to be aware of prior to the election,'' Mr Weller said.

``It does not bode well for irrigators in northern Victoria, as the loss of further water entitlements could mean disaster for them.''

He said there was no doubt that water needed to be carefully managed to provide the best possible environmental outcomes.

``However, this has to be done with a sense of balance which reflects the social and economic costs of water savings.

``If she (Ms Wong) had nothing to hide, the proposals should be tabled prior to the election, and voters can then make up their minds in terms of supporting any of these new policies.''