❓ Hon Sheila Mills questions the discontinuation of the Waterwise program, highlighting its water-saving achievements. Hon Donna Faragher acknowledges the program's end due to funding issues from the previous government but indicates a focus on new, targeted water initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 335Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
waterwise program — discontinuance
I refer the minister to yesterday’s announcement by the government that as of 30 June 2009, the Waterwise program is to be discontinued. In light of reports that since its inception in 2003 the program has helped more than 350 000 households save 85 billion litres of water, and given the obvious benefits this saving must have on the environment, can the minister advise — (1) Was the minister consulted regarding this decision before the announcement? (2) Does the minister support the government’s decision to discontinue this program? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
I refer the minister to yesterday’s announcement by the government that as of 30 June 2009, the Waterwise program is to be discontinued. In light of reports that since its inception in 2003 the program has helped more than 350 000 households save 85 billion litres of water, and given the obvious benefits this saving must have on the environment, can the minister advise — (1) Was the minister consulted regarding this decision before the announcement? (2) Does the minister support the government’s decision to discontinue this program? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
(1) Was the minister consulted regarding this decision before the announcement? (2) Does the minister support the government’s decision to discontinue this program? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
(2) Does the minister support the government’s decision to discontinue this program? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
(1) Was the minister consulted regarding this decision before the announcement? (2) Does the minister support the government’s decision to discontinue this program? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
(2) Does the minister support the government’s decision to discontinue this program? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. I say at the outset that obviously this is a matter for the Minister for Water, who has responsibility for Waterwise. However, I have spoken to the Minister for Water on this matter. I understand that the funding was due to cease as of the end of June, because it was not in the forward estimates of the previous government. I understand also that what the Minister for Water is very keen to see in areas where we are water short is a continuation of targeted initiatives, such as for leaking pipes and those sorts of things. So while this has been a very good program, I understand from the Minister for Water that he is very keen to look at new initiatives where we are water short, and also at particular areas where we have been missing out. That is the information that I have from the Minister for Water.
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