click here to download Greg Hunt’s Media Release
26 May 2008
LABOR’S RUTHLESS ATTEMPT TO CRUSH COMMUNITY RESISTANCE TO THE DESALINATION PLANT
Flinders’ MP Greg Hunt has condemned the State and Federal Governments for their determination to pursue Your Water Your Say for costs after an unsuccessful legal challenge to the desalination plant.
Mr Hunt said the application for costs to be awarded against the community group betrayed an unwarranted level of vindictiveness on the part of the State and Federal Labor Governments.
“The Your Water Your Say group is made up of community members whose only crime is to care deeply about the environment and to want to protect the stunning Kilcunda coastline,†Mr Hunt said.
“For the two Labor Governments to pursue these people for costs, with the full knowledge that this would inevitably bankrupt the group, reveals a ruthless determination to silence dissent.
“Bankrupting Your Water Your Say will effectively remove the community’s ability to have a say on this issue and give the State Government a free rein to do as it pleases, regardless of what local residents want. How will this serve the interests of democracy?
“Perhaps Mr Brumby’s desire to silence the community stems from his inability to justify his decision to build a desalination plant.
“He has never publicly stated why he chose the most expensive and environmentally-destructive method of augmenting Melbourne’s water supply instead of cleaning up Gunnamatta and recycling our waste water for industry and agriculture.
“As for Mr Garrett, this move is merely the latest in a string of ill-considered decisions in which the environment will be the ultimate loser.â€
Media contact: Tina McGuffie on 03 5979 3188 or 0417 361 732
