Download the Dumby 2 award as a pdf

Download the media release as a pdf

28th July 2008

NO DESALINATION PROTEST AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

When: Tuesday, 29th July 2008 from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where: On the Steps of Parliament House, Melbourne.
Why: Because of the CONTINUED lack of Government Consultation and of ANOTHER wrong & misleading statement that deserves
presentation of the 2nd DUMBY AWARD, again to the man who inspired it; Mr John Brumby himself!
What: At 12:30 p.m., after a morning of distributing FACTUAL information (regarding Victoria’s water situation & the sustainable / economically superior alternatives to securing our water future) to Melbourne pedestrians we will hold a brief public interview and award presentation with Mr. Brumby on the steps of Parliament House, with a colorful backdrop of placards & banners.
If in the event he refuses to meet with us (which at least would be consistent with his treatment of the Victorian people) the interview and presentation WILL STILL PROCEED with our very own mocked up version of our Premier!!! Later in the day (at approximately 3:30 p.m. inside Parliament House), Member for Bass, Mr Ken Smith with some YWYS representatives will attempt to present Mr Brumby with more petitions and post cards from the Bass Coast.

Chris Heislers from Your Water Your Say said “This is part of an escalating campaign that the Melbourne Chapter of our group are launching in Melbourne. A campaign that will show voters how they are being conned into paying up to five times the current cost of water, by an industrial process that is absolutely incompatible with Government rhetoric to fighting Climate Change. There are economically, socially and environmentally superior alternatives to Desalination. However short sighted political arrogance and big business appear to be obstructing Due Diligence. The Brumby Government must be held to justice. We will do our very best to ensure that!”

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Name: Chris Heislers
Phone: 0419 556 381
Email: heislers@netspace.net.au

Name: Neil Rankine
Phone: 0413 902 571
Email: neilnola@netspace.net.au

The National Water Commission is responsible for helping to drive national water reform and advising the Minister for Climate Change and Water and State and Territory governments on water issues. The Commission is also responsible for managing the implementation of the National Water Initiative - the blueprint for national water reform - and for implementing, under the $2 billion Australian Government Water Fund - the Raising National Water Standards programme.

“LOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF URBAN WATER PRICING

At their meeting yesterday in Canberra, Australia’s National Water Commissioners agreed to release a report on Approaches to urban water pricing, which assesses urban water pricing options and suggests there is scope to improve current arrangements.
National Water Commissioner, Chloe Munro said, ‘This Waterlines report prepared by Frontier Economics, together with the Commission’s accompanying Position Statement, shows that new approaches to water pricing have the potential to deliver better outcomes for water users, reducing the reliance on costly water restrictions. …”

Please click on here to continue reading the commission’s media release.

And please click on here to get to the reports - Looking to the future of urban water pricing.

Download this media release as a .pdf

22 July 2008

SENATOR WONG’S CONTEMPT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Today, Chris Heislers from Your Water Your Say said “Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong, by backing the Victorian Desalination Project, has either
displayed a lack of understanding of Victoria’s water supply options or else is aware of a rumoured secret deal with a large multinational company to deliver water to
Victoria.”
“Melbourne, even accounting for drought and worse case scenario climate change effects on water supply, has ample rainfall now and into the future. Unfortunately it
allows 600 billion litres of water to run into our bays every year. The desalination proposal will suck back out of the ocean just one quarter of that; why not stop it
running out in the first place? That option is easily achievable at a fraction the economic and environmental cost.”

“The proposed Desalination Project will contribute up to 1 million tonnes of CO2 every year; enough to power up to 125 000 homes. It can NOT be carbon neutral;
justification by hiding behind an Emissions Trading Scheme / Carbon Offsets is an obscene betrayal of the intent of such schemes. The project WILL pollute.”
“Collect the rain falling off our roofs and running down our drains, reuse water for industry; THAT is sustainable water policy. It is cheaper, attainable and climate
friendly. Desalination MUST be a last resort, not a first. Why does due process continue to be ignored by Mr Brumby and Ms Wong?”

“We have invited Ms Wong numerous times to meet with the community to discuss our concerns and how they fit with Climate Change. We have even offered to travel
to Canberra to meet with her at any time. She continues to refuse all our invitations.

It appears this new government has a closed door to legitimate consultation; to the detriment of democracy and in this instance to the detriment of our environment” said Chris Heislers.

For more information contact:
Name: Chris Heislers
Phone: 0419 556 381
Email: heislers@netspace.net.au

Name: Neil Rankine
Phone: 0413 902 571
Email: neilnola@netspace.net.au

July 22, 2008

ADAM MORTON

The Age - Wong backs desal plant

Download The Dumby Award #1 as a .pdf