Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Liberal Member for Bass

Monday 12th July 2010

Water Corporations Must Stop Wasting Our Money

Taxpayer-funded water corporations appear determined to continue to waste money on self congratulation and promotion rather than delivering the services they should be. Last week we had the unedifying revelation that tens of thousands of dollars was spent on watches and wallets for staff to celebrate one year of being in operation. Yesterday, I was surprised to see an eight page full colour promotional insert included in a weekend paper once again to promote the water corporations.

Tasmanians can rightly be annoyed that at a time when they are being asked to pay more and more for their water and sewerage services the corporations that provide these services seem intent on spending their money on gifts and glossy advertising.

The corporations must stop wasting money on these extravagances.

Tasmanians are rightly concerned by rising prices for water and sewerage services and this sort of wasteful, profligate spending will do nothing to quell their concerns.

Prices are due to go up again by another ten percent this year meaning that the corporations will hit Tasmanians up for another $20 million increase. Whilst bills will only rise by 5%, Tasmanians will be paying for all of this increase because the other 5% increase is paid for by the Labor-Green Government from the revenue collected from taxes and charges levied on all Tasmanians.

The corporations should either be reducing the cost of the services they provide or conversely increasing the investment they make in infrastructure. Feel good presents and glossy advertising simply does not cut it.