Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens' Member for Bass
Instead of taking credit for the State and the nation's ongoing recovery from the GFC, the Hodgman Government needs to commit to the people of Launceston that it will invest a significant part of its $150 million windfall gain into the city's ancient and ailing water and sewerage infrastructure.
The Treasurer and Member for Bass, Mr Gutwein, has tried to wash his hands of the critical need to fix up Launceston's water and sewerage infrastructure, blaming the problem on Councils and TasWater while crying poor himself.
TasWater has asked for $100 million over ten years to upgrade a system which has leaked raw sewerage onto Launceston streets.
The Liberals have the one-off capital funds necessary now to help lift Launceston's water and sewerage system into the 21st century.
The property boom that led to this windfall gain has been far stronger in the State's south, the sign of a two speed economy.
The State's North is where that money should be spent and the number one infrastructure priority for the Northern economy is surely Launceston's near third-world water and sewerage system.
Mr Gutwein and his Liberal colleagues can no longer cry poor and try to buck-pass responsibility for Launceston's critical infrastructure needs.
We're told the money is in the bank. Instead of socking it away into an election war chest, the Treasurer needs to look after his constituents in Bass who are putting up with an ancient and unhealthy water and sewerage system.