PM Transcripts

R A N 9 N B : i6AR
FOR MEDIA 10 ' October 1983
COUNTRY WATP. SUPPLIES
The Queensland Government is holding up urgently needed
jobs improving water supplies in country towns.
Federal Government funds are lying idle, while the StLre
Government dithers on how it should be spent.
The money is Queensland's shar-of a special allocation
under the Community 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 beain to consider how it should
be spent until almost a month after the State election.
The availability of Commonwealth money for country town
water supplies was first announced by the Treasurer in
his 19 May Economic Statement. The Queensland Government
has had plenty of tire to consider the matter.
The Fea ral Government is. very concious
of the inadequacies ot 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 Progran.
I am confident that there will be good news for somc
of the local applicants, but until the State Government
is prepared to honour its part of the bargain, these
urgently needed projects cannot proceed.
MT ISA
October 1983
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