❓ The Minister for Water discusses the benefits of aquifer recharge, highlighting the potential to reuse wastewater and addressing criticism from the Leader of the Opposition regarding its suitability for developed countries. The exchange reveals political disagreement on water management strategies.
AnsweredQoN 694Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister inform members of the benefits Western Australian water users will receive as a result of plans to use aquifer recharging to supplement our water supplies? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question and her very real interest in water, particularly water recycling and recharge. Each year in Western Australia something like 100 gigalitres of water is pumped into the ocean as waste water, and this is at a time when we have a drying climate. We clearly need to consider how we can make use of that water. In initiating the $3 million managed aquifer recharge, which is a project involving the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Water Corporation, Curtin University, the Chemistry Centre of WA, the University of Western Australia and the Centre for Ground Water Studies, the Premier is putting together a team to see how we can use some of the 100 gigalitres of water that is being pumped into the ocean. Members will know that, in many of our rural towns, a large amount of that water is already reused. I think something like 40 per cent of waste water outside the metropolitan area is reused. A huge amount of metropolitan waste water goes into the ocean. Dr K.D. Hames : It was being planned in 2000 and it has taken you five years to implement it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for her question and her very real interest in water, particularly water recycling and recharge. Each year in Western Australia something like 100 gigalitres of water is pumped into the ocean as waste water, and this is at a time when we have a drying climate. We clearly need to consider how we can make use of that water. In initiating the $3 million managed aquifer recharge, which is a project involving the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Water Corporation, Curtin University, the Chemistry Centre of WA, the University of Western Australia and the Centre for Ground Water Studies, the Premier is putting together a team to see how we can use some of the 100 gigalitres of water that is being pumped into the ocean. Members will know that, in many of our rural towns, a large amount of that water is already reused. I think something like 40 per cent of waste water outside the metropolitan area is reused. A huge amount of metropolitan waste water goes into the ocean. Dr K.D. Hames : It was being planned in 2000 and it has taken you five years to implement it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
I thank the member for her question and her very real interest in water, particularly water recycling and recharge. Each year in Western Australia something like 100 gigalitres of water is pumped into the ocean as waste water, and this is at a time when we have a drying climate. We clearly need to consider how we can make use of that water. In initiating the $3 million managed aquifer recharge, which is a project involving the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Water Corporation, Curtin University, the Chemistry Centre of WA, the University of Western Australia and the Centre for Ground Water Studies, the Premier is putting together a team to see how we can use some of the 100 gigalitres of water that is being pumped into the ocean. Members will know that, in many of our rural towns, a large amount of that water is already reused. I think something like 40 per cent of waste water outside the metropolitan area is reused. A huge amount of metropolitan waste water goes into the ocean. Dr K.D. Hames : It was being planned in 2000 and it has taken you five years to implement it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Dr K.D. Hames : It was being planned in 2000 and it has taken you five years to implement it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . .
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for her question and her very real interest in water, particularly water recycling and recharge. Each year in Western Australia something like 100 gigalitres of water is pumped into the ocean as waste water, and this is at a time when we have a drying climate. We clearly need to consider how we can make use of that water. In initiating the $3 million managed aquifer recharge, which is a project involving the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Water Corporation, Curtin University, the Chemistry Centre of WA, the University of Western Australia and the Centre for Ground Water Studies, the Premier is putting together a team to see how we can use some of the 100 gigalitres of water that is being pumped into the ocean. Members will know that, in many of our rural towns, a large amount of that water is already reused. I think something like 40 per cent of waste water outside the metropolitan area is reused. A huge amount of metropolitan waste water goes into the ocean. Dr K.D. Hames : It was being planned in 2000 and it has taken you five years to implement it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
I thank the member for her question and her very real interest in water, particularly water recycling and recharge. Each year in Western Australia something like 100 gigalitres of water is pumped into the ocean as waste water, and this is at a time when we have a drying climate. We clearly need to consider how we can make use of that water. In initiating the $3 million managed aquifer recharge, which is a project involving the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Water Corporation, Curtin University, the Chemistry Centre of WA, the University of Western Australia and the Centre for Ground Water Studies, the Premier is putting together a team to see how we can use some of the 100 gigalitres of water that is being pumped into the ocean. Members will know that, in many of our rural towns, a large amount of that water is already reused. I think something like 40 per cent of waste water outside the metropolitan area is reused. A huge amount of metropolitan waste water goes into the ocean. Dr K.D. Hames : It was being planned in 2000 and it has taken you five years to implement it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Dr K.D. Hames : It was being planned in 2000 and it has taken you five years to implement it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Why then did the Leader of the Opposition say the proposal was rubbish and was good for only Third World countries? Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr M.J. Birney : Only one section of it. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Which section? Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr M.J. Birney : Sewage water. I have to do that every day when I listen to you blokes. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The Leader of the Opposition does not want to be taken seriously. He said on television that this approach was something we would see in a Third World country. Since 1976, Orange County in California has recharged something like 20 gigalitres a year of waste water into an aquifer. Torreele in Belgium infiltrates waste water into a dunal aquifer. Waste water in Singapore is being reused. However, the Leader of the Opposition said it should be used only in Third World countries. Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr M.J. Birney : Is this from the B list of ideas? You have run out of A-list ideas. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : Does the Leader of the Opposition think this is a B-list idea? Does he not support it? Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr M.J. Birney : It is your B-list idea. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : During the last election campaign, Liberal Party policy stated - The Coalition will commit to the current target of 20 per cent re-use of treated wastewater by 2012. The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . . That was the Liberal Party’s policy at the last election. However, the Leader of the Opposition says that it is a B-grade idea, that it is rubbish and that only Third World countries should use it. I researched the TV news on the weekend and nearly every channel reported the Leader of the Opposition as saying, “Only in Third World countries.” However, it is in the opposition’s own policy document! Instead of attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition should do some homework. He makes a fool of himself. He should stop making his Pope-partner statements every week and start talking some sense.
The use of treated wastewater has been tested successfully and implemented interstate and overseas, particularly in California, Israel and South Australia where significant volumes of water are re-used successfully for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge . . .
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