PM Transcripts

PRIME MNTER
FOR MEDIA 9 October 1983
COUNTRY WATER SUPPLIES
The Queensland Government is holding up urgently neededi
jobs improving water supplies in country towns.
Federal Government funds are lying idle, while the State
Government dithers on how it should be spent.
The mioney is Queensland's share of a spe! cial allocation
under the-Comrnunity Employment Program designed to improve
the quality and reliability of country water supplies.
The money has been available for weeks, but the Queensland
Government will not even begin to consider how it should
be spent until almost a month after the State election.
The availability of Commonwealth money for country tow--n
water supplies was first announced by the Treasurer in
his 19 May Economic Statement. The Queensland Government
has had plenty of time to consider the matter.
Johih Gayler has made the Federal Government very conscious
of the inadequacies of water supplies to some country
towns in the Far North and North West of Queensland.
A number of councils have made applications for funding
under the special water projects scheme to be funded
under the Community Employment Program.
I am confident that there will be good news for some
of the local applicants, but until the State Government
is prepared to honour its part of the bargain, these
urgently needed projects cannot proceed.
Cairns