Qld: PM urged to 'bring his chequebook' on next visit to SE Qld

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2007
Qld: PM urged to 'bring his chequebook' on next visit to SE Qld

BRISBANE, April 22 AAP - The Queensland government has demanded Prime Minister John
Howard "bring his chequebook" next time he visits the state's south-east to help ease
the worst drought on record.

Deputy Premier Anna Bligh today launched a blistering attack on Mr Howard ahead of
his federal cabinet meeting in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Ms Bligh accused the federal government of deliberately stalling on Queensland's request
for $408 million for the $1.7 billion western corridor recycled water pipeline, while
pledging hundreds of millions of dollars to other plans "drawn up on the back of an envelope".

"While two million Australians (in south-east Queensland) are battling the worst drought
in their history, John Howard and (Water Resources Minister) Malcolm Turnbull have so
far refused to commit one cent to help them," Ms Bligh said.

"Two million people are sick of this. They demand to know why the prime minister is
leaving them high and dry."

Mr Turnbull has so far refused Ms Bligh's request for the money, saying the state government
has yet to put forward a proper business case for the proposal.

Mr Howard, who was in the state's south-east last week, had been tipped to make a major
water funding announcement while visiting the Wivenhoe Dam.

But Ms Bligh said the prime minister's visit was "just another hollow photo opportunity".

"I've got one message for the prime minister - when you come to Queensland next week,
do the decent thing and bring your chequebook," she said.

Ms Bligh said the state government was committed to building the pipeline, with or
without federal funding.

"However, lack of federal funding clearly would have an impact on the price south-east
Queenslanders paid for water," she said.

Ms Bligh also accused Mr Turnbull of running a "nonsense campaign" in his quest for
more details on the pipeline funding.

She said a 52-page breakdown of the scheme had been submitted to the federal government.

"He's waving his calculator around, demanding to make a profit on this scheme and wanting
some mythical business case," Ms Bligh said.

"At the same time, he's pledged hundreds of millions for a pipeline from the northern
rivers that's nothing more at this stage than a desktop study."

Mr Turnbull a fortnight ago unveiled a controversial plan to pipe water from northern
NSW to Queensland.

AAP rm/cp/cdh

KEYWORD: WATER QLD

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