Senator Perin Davey
Deputy Leader of the Nationals
Shadow Minister for Water
Shadow Minister for Emergency Management
Senator for New South Wales
Mr Colin Boyce MP
Federal Member for Flynn
The Hon Michelle Landry MP
Federal Member for Capricornia
Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
ROOKWOOD WEIR SURVIVED LABOR CUTS TO FLOW
Three years after construction commenced, water is finally flowing from the Rookwood Weir in central Queensland to bolster agriculture and employment in the region, thanks to funding from the Liberals and Nationals in Government.
Shadow Water Minister, Perin Davey, said Rookwood Weir was funded by the then Coalition Government who recognised the importance of secure water for the expansion of agricultural production and business opportunities for the local economy.
“The Coalition provided $3.5 billion from the National Water Grid Fund and the first concrete was poured in September 2021 meaning the project was too far along for the incoming Labor Government to cancel it,” Senator Davey said.
Senator Davey said she was extremely disappointed when the Albanese Government cut the funding for other weirs and dams projects such as Hells Gate Dam, Dungowan, Wyangala, Emu Swamp Dam, Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme, and the Fingal Irrigation Scheme.
“They are also sitting on deferred funding out into the never never for the vitally important Paradise Dam Improvement project and other proposals that were being investigated like the Big Rocks Weir project and the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme.
“The Albanese Government has stopped, blocked and defunded over $7 billion of water infrastructure projects funded by the Liberals and Nationals and have consistently said new weirs and dams were bad for the environment.
“For this Government to now claim credit for the Rookwood Weir after killing off more water projects than any other Commonwealth Water Minister in the last fifty years is absolutely galling.
“If the Albanese Government hadn’t cut the Coalition’s funding for dams in each of its first three budgets, communities of Tamworth, Forbes, Parkes, Cowra, Townsville and those on the Darling Downs would also be celebrating how ‘wonderful it is to see water flowing on to farms’ especially during times of drought.
Senator Davey said instead, these communities were facing climate extremes without the tools they need to provide safe and secure water supplies to towns, farms and businesses.
Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce said while Labor claim credit for nation building water infrastructure, their track record says otherwise.
“The Central Queensland LNP team fought for the Rookwood Weir over many years and were ultimately critical in ensuring the project was delivered,” Mr Boyce said. “Successive Queensland Labor Governments are responsible for the greatest engineering failure in Australia’s history, which is Paradise Dam.
“Now, the Albanese Labor Government has made the decision to slash funding to restore Paradise Dam which is a kick in the guts for not only the Bundaberg area but the agricultural industry as a whole.
“It is clear that Labor have no credibility when it comes to water infrastructure.”
The Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, slammed the blatant hypocrisy of the Labor Party, pointing out how they rushed to celebrate the Rookwood Weir project, despite dragging their feet for over a year before committing a single dollar to its funding.
“It’s sheer irony that Labor pretends to support water projects one week, then the next, they axe the 970GL Urannah Dam—killing off water security for 20,000 hectares of prime agricultural land. “They’re quick to cut the ribbon on Coalition-funded projects but refuse to invest in the very initiatives that could drive growth in our region,” Ms Landry said.
ENDS