Jillian Skinner MP Member for North Shore Deputy Liberal Leader Shadow Minister for Health Shadow Minister for Science & Medical Research Shadow Minister for the Arts

Friday 28 March 2008

MORRIS IEMMA ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AS NSW LOSES OUT ON ALL FRONTS

Deputy NSW Opposition Leader Jillian Skinner said today Morris Iemma’s inaction, ineffectiveness and laziness has been on full display this week.

“While Victorian Premier John Brumby successfully negotiated an extra $1 billion for his state as part of the National Water Plan and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh trumpeted a ‘secret deal’ that she’s secured additional health funding for her state, Morris Iemma returned from COAG empty handed,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Mr Iemma also failed to secure a better GST deal for NSW taxpayers,” she said.

“NSW has lost again because Morris Iemma probably slept his way through the meeting.

“While Morris Iemma was getting outfoxed and out-negotiated on health and water funding, his Deputy John Watkins was misleading the media and the public over a ferry crash on the Harbour.

“Instead of releasing the whole report, John Watkins only released the summary at his media conference and said Sydney Ferries weren’t to blame for the accident.

“After an examination of the full report, it’s clear Sydney Ferries are anything but blameless with continued breaches of basic speed and direction rules.

“And yesterday, despite an election promise of ‘no increases in taxes and charges’, Mr Iemma hit already struggling working families with a $200 a year water price hike on the back of his expensive $2 billion desalination plant.

“Half of the increase in water prices is directly attributable to his $2 billion energy guzzling desalination plant – which on Morris Iemma’s own test shouldn’t be built.

“Mr Iemma said he’s only go ahead with desal once dams levels dropped to 30%. They never reached that level, but Morris Iemma panicked ahead of the state election and pressed the button anyway. NSW families now bear the brunt of that cost.