❓ Hon. Norman Moore questions the Minister for Government Enterprises about perceived misleading statements regarding water resources in Perth and the South West, citing Water Corporation data indicating ample unallocated water. The Minister denies misleading the public and references drought conditions.
AnsweredQoN 1119Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
It is getting harder and harder to get information, I am afraid, Mr President. Hon Nick Griffiths: You have to ask the right question. Hon NORMAN MOORE: I have to ask the right question, do I? I will try this one. This question without notice is to the Minister for Government Enterprises; it is not about the quality of the State’s water, which I will ask the minister about next week. Hon Nick Griffiths: I was prepared for it. Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon Nick Griffiths: You have to ask the right question. Hon NORMAN MOORE: I have to ask the right question, do I? I will try this one. This question without notice is to the Minister for Government Enterprises; it is not about the quality of the State’s water, which I will ask the minister about next week. Hon Nick Griffiths: I was prepared for it. Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon NORMAN MOORE: I have to ask the right question, do I? I will try this one. This question without notice is to the Minister for Government Enterprises; it is not about the quality of the State’s water, which I will ask the minister about next week. Hon Nick Griffiths: I was prepared for it. Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon Nick Griffiths: I was prepared for it. Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
(2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
(1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
(2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon Nick Griffiths: You have to ask the right question. Hon NORMAN MOORE: I have to ask the right question, do I? I will try this one. This question without notice is to the Minister for Government Enterprises; it is not about the quality of the State’s water, which I will ask the minister about next week. Hon Nick Griffiths: I was prepared for it. Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon NORMAN MOORE: I have to ask the right question, do I? I will try this one. This question without notice is to the Minister for Government Enterprises; it is not about the quality of the State’s water, which I will ask the minister about next week. Hon Nick Griffiths: I was prepared for it. Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon Nick Griffiths: I was prepared for it. Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon NORMAN MOORE: In the meantime, I suggest the minister try some water to see whether it is any good. I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
I refer the minister to the Water Corporation’s web site, which informs the public of an abundance of surface and ground water available in the south west of Western Australia, including the Perth basin, as reflected in the following Water Corporation statement referring to Perth’s future water demand - It is estimated that there are currently 2,400 gigalitres of un-allocated ground and surface water that can be sustainably accessed to provide the additional 270 gigalitres we expect will be required. (1) As the Water Corporation does not perceive a water shortage problem for Perth and the south west, will the minister explain why this Government has persistently misled the community over the state of the water resources by implying that there is a water shortage? (2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
(2) Will the minister ease public anxiety over the water resources by directing the Water Corporation to take out prominent advertising and inform the community of the truth about the water resources; and, if not, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
I was expecting a question about water quality. I can assure the honourable member that I constantly monitor the taste of water, particularly during question time. I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
(1) The Government has not misled the community over the state of the water resources. I refer the honourable member to my answer to question without notice 814. I remind the honourable member that the below average rainfall in 2002 extended the recent drought sequence to six years. During this drought, average stream flow in metropolitan dams was 30 per cent below the average since 1975, which was already 50 per cent down on the previous average. (2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
(2) This is not necessary because the community has not been misled.
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