[Greens-Media] South Australians not suckers for Labor water spin

[Clark, Gemma (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

Friday 28 November 2008

South Australians not suckers for Labor water spin 

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for Victorian Premier John
Brumby to stick to the facts on Murray-Darling water and not resort to
public relations spin.

"South Australians, who have less water, will be appalled that
professional public relations staff from the Victorian Premier's office
have been 'spinning' journalists in South Australia to ramp up support
for Victoria's North-South Pipeline," she said.

"It's a tactic which South Australians will see straight through."

The Senate this week passed the Water Amendment Bill with numerous
amendments from Greens, Coalition and Independent Senators, aimed at
maximising the amount of water that can stay in the Murray-Darling
system and maintain environmental flows to South Australia.

"South Australians are not suckers and won't buy Labor's spin on the
absurd North-South pipeline. It is very clear that the idea is bad for
SA, bad for Victoria and bad for the entire Basin," she said.

Senator Hanson-Young said that communities around South Australia's
Lower Lakes and Coorong had good reason to not trust Labor on water.

"Labor voted against the $50 million relief package for these
communities that all the other South Australian senators supported," she
said.

"The Greens recognise that the Lower Lakes and Coorong communities are
hurting, especially without access to drought relief packages, and need
help.

"We will continue to work to ensure the future of South Australia's
water is properly managed and planned effectively, without the need to
construct absurd projects such as the North-South Pipeline."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760