MEDIA RELEASE: CONFIRMATION THAT THE ABBOTT-TURNBULL-MORRISON GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BUILT A SINGLE DAM

THE HON TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
 
CONFIRMATION THAT THE ABBOTT-TURNBULL-MORRISON GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BUILT A SINGLE DAM
 

After questioning from Senator Gallacher it was revealed in Senate estimates that despite all of their talk – the Government has not built a dam on the Australian mainland and not started any new dams.

Barnaby Joyce and other rural government MPs are regularly quoted as saying that dams are the solution and “We are a government that has the ticker to build dams” (Barnaby Joyce, May 2016)

Their record of inaction speaks for itself:

- In 2011 a taskforce on dams was announced – nothing came of it

 - In 2013 Tony Abbott planned to build “100 dams and harvest nation's riches” and on the same day Greg Hunt said “We have no proposal for 100 dams as such". 

- Over the years there have been a number of Green and White Papers announced with fanfare but still no dams built.

- More recently the Abbott Turnbull Morrison Government re-announced its 2013 proposal but the number of dams went from 100 to 9. This proposal was quickly questioned by stakeholders. 

In 2013 Tony Abbott planned to build “100 dams and harvest nation's riches”. 5 years on and they still haven’t built a single dam, let alone 100.

However, in the 5 years they have been in government they haven’t built a single dam.

It’s farcical considering the  government’s claims and the spin they use in rural Australia.

In estimates it was revealed:

Senator Gallacher: So if I go specifically to the Dams being a cornerstone of the Coalition’s regional water policy, that is correct?

Senator Ruston: That is correct

Senator Gallacher: And how many dams have been completed in the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government’s tenure?

Senator Ruston: Well, you have the answer Senator.

Senator Gallacher: It’s zero.

Senator Ruston: Well, it’s not zero because obviously we’ve had dams completed in Tasmania. There are dams that have progressed but it is under the purview and remit of the State Governments as to the speed to which these can occur…

However, the dams Senator Ruston was referring to were started by Labor.

The Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government hasn’t built a dam on the mainland or started any new ones in Tasmania.

Labor has also recently committed to dam projects in Northern Australia to:
·         Upgrade the Burdekin Dam
·         Build the Rookwood Weir

Construction of dams is serious and proposals have to stack up environmentally and commercially.

A site needs to be selected carefully - with the correct topography, rainfall and soil type. Environmental impacts and impact on neighbouring groundwater also need to be looked at to make sure it stacks up.

This Governments record on dams is a joke and the Australian people deserve more than spin.

SATURDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2018