Post by ppyenews on Jun 3, 2006 21:18:44 GMT -5
Who should own the ‘Snowy?’
Welcome to ‘Talkback Topic’ – I’m Phillip Pye
The proposed sale of the ‘Snowy River Hydro Scheme’ has created much comment of late. There has been ferocious debate in both Federal and State Parliaments as to its sale and an equal amount of public comment and lobbying throughout Australia. Many in the New South Wales and Victorian agricultural areas have been particularly vocal. To many it is their life-blood. They depend on it to continue to farm. One of the largest costs and concerns in farming in Inland Australia is Water. Without it they simply cannot survive and if left to Mother Nature to provide adequate rainfall, they would be doomed, Drought makes sure of that.
The Sale of the ‘Snowy River Hydro Scheme’ was dropped last Friday by the Federal Government explaining the reason as, not in the interests of the public. The move has been supported by former Prime Minister ‘Malcolm Fraser’ who says that the Federal Government needs to focus more attention on water conservation now that the sale of the ‘Snowy Hydro Scheme’ has collapsed. Malcolm Fraser was one of 56 prominent Australians who signed a letter of protest against the sale, describing it as, “privatisation gone mad”, also saying “there needs to be a very clear-eyed and very well put together national inquiry.
New South Wales Liberal Senator, ‘Bill Heffernan’ believes the Commonwealth should take control of the country’s waterways and is calling for a referendum on the issue. Senator Heffernan has accused the States of mismanaging the nation’s water supplies. In response to the sale being dropped, he said, “Australians today should have great heart and great national pride in the fact that people power has convinced the politicians that we ought to retain one of the seven engineering wonders of the world in safe hands”.
Henry Palaszczuk, Queensland’s Water Minister disagrees and says that Senator Heffernan’s suggestion is extreme. New South Wales Environment Minister, ‘Bob Debus’ rejects the proposal saying that he cannot see how the Federal Government could manage water supplies by itself. He says, “It has no particular skills to do so and we still need the States to be involved. He says that what is really needed is proper cooperation between Governments and for policies to continue as they are now to better protect the environment whilst looking after the interests of the Irrigators.
Parliamentary Secretary for water, Malcolm Turnbull has poured cold water on the idea of a referendum saying that he does not think there is any prospect of change of control over water other than by constitutional amendment and that it is not Government Policy. The New South Wales ‘Greens’ claim that they will be attempting to introduce legislation in Parliament on Tuesday to ensure the ‘Snowy Hydro Scheme’ cannot be sold without the consent of both houses of parliament.
New South Wales Finance Minister, ‘John Della Bosca’ wants the Federal Government to buy out State shares in the ‘Snowy Hydro Scheme’ whilst Victoria’s Premier ‘Steve Bracks’ says his Government was only doing so after being lobbied to by the NSW and Federal Governments. In the meantime residents in the Snowy region have celebrated the scuttling of the sale. What was to be a protest in ‘Cooma’ has ended in a celebration but the Towns Mayor; ‘Roger Norton’ says that it doesn’t end there with future funding still to be ensured. Despite the present outcome of the sale of the ‘Snowy Hydro Scheme’, the next big question is, - “Who should own the Snowy”?
I’m Phillip Pye.
Welcome to ‘Talkback Topic’ – I’m Phillip Pye
The proposed sale of the ‘Snowy River Hydro Scheme’ has created much comment of late. There has been ferocious debate in both Federal and State Parliaments as to its sale and an equal amount of public comment and lobbying throughout Australia. Many in the New South Wales and Victorian agricultural areas have been particularly vocal. To many it is their life-blood. They depend on it to continue to farm. One of the largest costs and concerns in farming in Inland Australia is Water. Without it they simply cannot survive and if left to Mother Nature to provide adequate rainfall, they would be doomed, Drought makes sure of that.
The Sale of the ‘Snowy River Hydro Scheme’ was dropped last Friday by the Federal Government explaining the reason as, not in the interests of the public. The move has been supported by former Prime Minister ‘Malcolm Fraser’ who says that the Federal Government needs to focus more attention on water conservation now that the sale of the ‘Snowy Hydro Scheme’ has collapsed. Malcolm Fraser was one of 56 prominent Australians who signed a letter of protest against the sale, describing it as, “privatisation gone mad”, also saying “there needs to be a very clear-eyed and very well put together national inquiry.
New South Wales Liberal Senator, ‘Bill Heffernan’ believes the Commonwealth should take control of the country’s waterways and is calling for a referendum on the issue. Senator Heffernan has accused the States of mismanaging the nation’s water supplies. In response to the sale being dropped, he said, “Australians today should have great heart and great national pride in the fact that people power has convinced the politicians that we ought to retain one of the seven engineering wonders of the world in safe hands”.
Henry Palaszczuk, Queensland’s Water Minister disagrees and says that Senator Heffernan’s suggestion is extreme. New South Wales Environment Minister, ‘Bob Debus’ rejects the proposal saying that he cannot see how the Federal Government could manage water supplies by itself. He says, “It has no particular skills to do so and we still need the States to be involved. He says that what is really needed is proper cooperation between Governments and for policies to continue as they are now to better protect the environment whilst looking after the interests of the Irrigators.
Parliamentary Secretary for water, Malcolm Turnbull has poured cold water on the idea of a referendum saying that he does not think there is any prospect of change of control over water other than by constitutional amendment and that it is not Government Policy. The New South Wales ‘Greens’ claim that they will be attempting to introduce legislation in Parliament on Tuesday to ensure the ‘Snowy Hydro Scheme’ cannot be sold without the consent of both houses of parliament.
New South Wales Finance Minister, ‘John Della Bosca’ wants the Federal Government to buy out State shares in the ‘Snowy Hydro Scheme’ whilst Victoria’s Premier ‘Steve Bracks’ says his Government was only doing so after being lobbied to by the NSW and Federal Governments. In the meantime residents in the Snowy region have celebrated the scuttling of the sale. What was to be a protest in ‘Cooma’ has ended in a celebration but the Towns Mayor; ‘Roger Norton’ says that it doesn’t end there with future funding still to be ensured. Despite the present outcome of the sale of the ‘Snowy Hydro Scheme’, the next big question is, - “Who should own the Snowy”?
I’m Phillip Pye.
