December 9, 2019
The LNP claims the State Government is planning to slug farmers to install new water meters, while much of the State is in drought.
The new meters – which could cost between $8000 and $100,000 each – are part of a proposal to strengthen non-urban water measurement.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said it would be an extra cost imposed on farmers, many of whom don’t have a drop of water for meters to read.
“Farmers have been blindsided by this heartless tax and many of them are already under financial strain,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Farmers are calling it the worst drought in living memory and they need more support, not another Labor tax.
“Slugging farmers up to $100,000 at a time like this shows just how out of touch Labor is with life in regional Queensland.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to show some leadership and rule this out.”
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources Dale Last said the LNP supported the sustainable use of water through a modern and accurate metering system, but the timing of the Labor’s water meter tax would cruel farmers.
“The middle of a drought is not the time to be taxing farmers for water that some of them don’t even have,” Mr Last said.
“Water costs are high enough without another Labor tax.”
Submissions on the Rural Water Management Program close on December 13.
- External link: Consultation paper (1.7Mb PDF)
