Gutwein: TasWater poll issue if Bill fails

LOCAL Government Minister Peter Gutwein has promised the State Government will take its controversial TasWater reforms to next year’s state election if it fails to pass the Upper House.

With the Legislative Council to debate the Government’s legislation to seize control of TasWater, Mr Gutwein urged members to support the Bill.

“Obviously we believe this is an important reform and we would be taking it to the election [in March],” he said.

“If it’s not supported our position won’t change.”

Mr Gutwein said he had spoken to several MLCs and briefed the Upper House last week on the legislation.

“I encourage any MLCs who want to see a positive outcome for Tasmania, who want to bring forward any sensible suggestions, to come and have a conversation with us,” he said.

“This legislation will provide a quicker fix, better infra- structure, and importantly lower prices for Tasmanians.”

Mr Gutwein said the parliamentary inquiry into TasWater ownership reported no consensus from members of the committee.

But Labor MLC Sarah Lovell claimed the inquiry report revealed there was no crisis in water and sewerage, and that there was no need for a takeover.

“I imagine that report will have generated a number of questions that the other members of the Legislative Council will have to ask the Government,” Ms Lovell said.

“I know there are number of concerns among members following the parliamentary inquiry report.

“The Government has been relying on there being a crisis as being their reason for there to be a need for a takeover.”

She said Labor’s position was instead to start three water and sewerage projects in Launceston, Hobart’s Macquarie Point and Berriedale’s Cameron Bay.