❓ Mr Redman questions the government's intention to charge farmers for water stored in their dams, particularly in light of the Yarragadee aquifer proposal. Minister Kobelke assures that there are no plans to charge for water in ordinary farm dams, while highlighting ongoing consultations regarding water licensing costs.
AnsweredQoN 631Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER REFORM - WATER CHARGES
I refer to the draft blueprint for water reform and the minister’s media release of 15 September 2006, which states that the water reform implementation committee is preparing advice for government on items including water trading, water metering and cost recovery. (1) Does the government intend to charge farmers for water stored in their own dams? (2) Would this option be considered even if the Water Corporation proceeds with its proposal to take 45 gigalitres of water from the Yarragadee aquifer? (3) Does the minister acknowledge that introducing a charge for water usage would not sit well with the agricultural community, which is already opposed to the proposal to pump water from the Yarragadee aquifer away from the south west to Perth? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
I refer to the draft blueprint for water reform and the minister’s media release of 15 September 2006, which states that the water reform implementation committee is preparing advice for government on items including water trading, water metering and cost recovery. (1) Does the government intend to charge farmers for water stored in their own dams? (2) Would this option be considered even if the Water Corporation proceeds with its proposal to take 45 gigalitres of water from the Yarragadee aquifer? (3) Does the minister acknowledge that introducing a charge for water usage would not sit well with the agricultural community, which is already opposed to the proposal to pump water from the Yarragadee aquifer away from the south west to Perth? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
(1) Does the government intend to charge farmers for water stored in their own dams? (2) Would this option be considered even if the Water Corporation proceeds with its proposal to take 45 gigalitres of water from the Yarragadee aquifer? (3) Does the minister acknowledge that introducing a charge for water usage would not sit well with the agricultural community, which is already opposed to the proposal to pump water from the Yarragadee aquifer away from the south west to Perth? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
(2) Would this option be considered even if the Water Corporation proceeds with its proposal to take 45 gigalitres of water from the Yarragadee aquifer? (3) Does the minister acknowledge that introducing a charge for water usage would not sit well with the agricultural community, which is already opposed to the proposal to pump water from the Yarragadee aquifer away from the south west to Perth? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
(3) Does the minister acknowledge that introducing a charge for water usage would not sit well with the agricultural community, which is already opposed to the proposal to pump water from the Yarragadee aquifer away from the south west to Perth? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
(1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
(1) Does the government intend to charge farmers for water stored in their own dams? (2) Would this option be considered even if the Water Corporation proceeds with its proposal to take 45 gigalitres of water from the Yarragadee aquifer? (3) Does the minister acknowledge that introducing a charge for water usage would not sit well with the agricultural community, which is already opposed to the proposal to pump water from the Yarragadee aquifer away from the south west to Perth? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
(2) Would this option be considered even if the Water Corporation proceeds with its proposal to take 45 gigalitres of water from the Yarragadee aquifer? (3) Does the minister acknowledge that introducing a charge for water usage would not sit well with the agricultural community, which is already opposed to the proposal to pump water from the Yarragadee aquifer away from the south west to Perth? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
(3) Does the minister acknowledge that introducing a charge for water usage would not sit well with the agricultural community, which is already opposed to the proposal to pump water from the Yarragadee aquifer away from the south west to Perth? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
(1)-(3) The clear answer is no, there is no intention that people be charged for water they hold in ordinary farm dams. I hope that the member and others might engage in that process of major reform. It is very much in keeping with the National Water Initiative, which members opposite said we should have signed up to. I assume that when members of the Liberal opposition and the National Party recommended that we sign the National Water Initiative, they understood what was being talked about. There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
There is a discussion paper on licensing costs. It does not relate to volumetric charges, which the National Water Initiative has put on the agenda. The government has made it very clear that we will look at what happens throughout the rest of Australia with any obligation under the National Water Initiative, but we accept that it is appropriate that we look at licence charging. That is out for discussion now right across Western Australia. We are consulting with people in all regions and in all the various user groups. We have even put in the discussion paper that is out in the community what might be the likely level of such licence charges. We hope that people will engage in the consultation. We will look to see the results from that consultation before any further step is taken in that direction. I reiterate that there is no suggestion and no thought about charging farmers in the dryland areas for water in their dams; in fact, we announced through the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we are increasing the grants we are giving to farmers by an extra $2 million to help them with on-farm water. We hope that offer will be taken up so that we can provide that assistance to farmers who are experiencing very difficult circumstances as a result of many parts of Western Australia having the driest year on record.
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