AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2007
Fed: Qld Nats will come on board over water plan: Vaile
CANBERRA, Aug 4 AAP - Federal Nationals leader Mark Vaile says he is confident the
Queensland division of his party will come around to supporting the commonwealth's $10
billion water plan, despite withdrawing support this week.
The party agreed at its Queensland conference in Brisbane on Sunday to withdraw its
support for the commonwealth's draft water bill in its current form.
The plan, which would transfer to the commonwealth the states' powers over the Murray-Darling
basin, is backed by the governments of NSW, South Australia and the ACT.
Only Victoria has refused to sign, prompting Prime Minister John Howard to announce
the federal government would invoke corporations powers to gain control of the basin.
Mr Vaile said he was confident the problems with the Queensland branch of the Nationals
party would be resolved.
He said the plan had been discussed since the beginning of the year, including the
issues of expenditure, infrastructure upgrades, and the marketplace purchase of water
licences from willing sellers.
"All through that process, we've announced very clearly our intentions as far as this
plan is concerned and how it's going to affect water users across the whole basin, including
in Queensland," Mr Vaile told reporters.
"The concerns raised out of Queensland last week were about ensuring that those commitments
were reflected in the legislation, and, of course, we're going to do that.
"We've made those commitments publicly and the prime minister has actually written
to water users in Queensland clearly identifying what we propose to do in terms of the
national plan."
He said the discussion was about ensuring those commitments were reflected and delivered
upon in the legislation.
"We will do that and I have no doubt that will be to their satisfaction."
AAP dep/arb/cdh
KEYWORD: WATER VAILE
2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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