News - June 2008

Tough calls blamed for poll backlash

Matthew Franklin and Stuart Rintoul, June 30, 2008, The Australian

Extract : Mr Chester said he believed the vote reflected concerns about the state Government's water policy, which included piping water to Melbourne and a desalination plant in Gippsland, and the federal Government's moves towards an emissions trading scheme, with fears it would cost jobs in the coal-rich Latrobe Valley and push up the price of electricity.

Majority opposes pipeline

Country News, 30 June 2008

JEFF WHALLEY: Water politics

30Jun08, The Geelong Advertiser

Memo to Mr Brumby: take Kororoit's lesson to heart

June 30, 2008, Editorial, The AGE

Extract : The Brumby Government is not a new government. It is a government that was first elected in 1999, and happens to have a new leader. And, like all governments that have held office for nearly a decade, it is beginning to show signs of the arrogance that, over time, inevitably taints the possessor of power. The Premier's lambasting of opponents of the Goulburn River pipeline scheme is perhaps the most notable example, but hardly the only one. The Government may officially be celebrating another win in one of its heartland seats, but it should recognise that it cannot afford more victories like this one.

Dry days spark calls to drop river bypass plan

Peter Ker, June 30, 2008, The Age

Joh Brumby

Balneus, Dave Bath

Extract : Brumby is leading a government that is fostering corruption, if not engaged in it. He is dismantling any real democracy we had. The inquiries and the scrutiny of decisions are a joke. Why don’t he just ‘fess up and repeal the FoI laws! Next Victorian election, this lefty will be putting the Liberals higher on my preference list than Labor! ALSO

Brumby Government has Got it Wrong on Water

Peter Campbell's blog on the state of the planet, June 26, 2008

Labor liberal with the truth as a matter of preference

Paul Austin, June 26, 2008, Fairfax Digital

Extract : Three weeks ago he lashed out at opponents of his planned pipeline from northern Victoria to Melbourne, saying they were knowingly telling lies about the contentious project.

Now his Labor Party is distributing a pamphlet in the Kororoit byelection campaign that is sure to mislead voters about the preferences of the high-profile independent candidate, Les Twentyman.

The difference between Walters and Twentyman is that Labor sees only Twentyman as a threat. And in John Brumby's Victoria, if you are a danger to the ALP you can expect to be attacked - regardless of the truth..

WE DON’T NEED A DICTATOR!

Colleen Jones, Poem, 2008

Victorian Premier Out Of Touch

June 26th 2008 05:13, Orble

I Will Govern For All Victorians (Caveat: But only if you are powerful and connected)

Plug the Pipe Media Release, 26th June 2008

Thirst for change in three states

Rick Wallace and Sean Parnell , June 26, 2008 , The Australian

Extract : The latest Newspoll, conducted exclusively for The Australian, reveals John Brumby's Government in Victoria has slumped to its lowest rating since he took over from Steve Bracks as Premier in August.

The Victorian Government remains under pressure over public transport, and its water policies - pipelines and desalination - have come under attack from the Left and Right flanks.

Report paints bleak picture for rivers

Elaine Jones, 24/06/2008 9:39:00 AM, The Bendigo Advertiser

Water export possible: Minister

June 24, 2008 - 2:42PM, Source: ABC

Plug the pipe and make with the flow of water information

The Greens, Uploaded June 24, 2008, Greg Barber MLC

Here's how the Murray can live

Kenneth Davidson, June 23, 2008, The Age

Pipeline savings just don't measure up

23/06/2008 8:48:00 AM, The Bendigo Advertiser

Water Wars

The Business Spectator, 23 June 2008

More water torture tipped

Jeff Whalley, 23Jun08 , The Geelong Advertiser

Time to dither about the Murray has run out

Editorial, June 21, 2008, The Age

AG to DSE: Dam or be damned

Alan Moran, IPA Website, 21 June

Average water bill to rise $294 within five years

Jeff Whalley, 21Jun08, The Geelong Advertiser

Water bills to rise by 15 per cent from July 1

June 20, 2008 01:10pm, The Herald Sun, Readers' Comments

Friday the 13th -- a bad day for democracy

Margarita Windisch, Melbourne, 20 June 2008, The Green Left

Victorian Government accused of stifling dissent over desalination plant

Broadcast: 20/06/2008, Reporter: Kathy Bowlen, ABC Stateline

Peter Garrett values Melbourne's toilets over the environment

The Hon Dr Sharman Stone MP, Fri, 20th June 2008

Murray-Darling river system turns into acid

Cathy Alexander and Nick Higginbottom , June 19, 2008 12:00am, The Herald Sun Readers' Comments

Goulburn River health check 'very poor'

Chris Hammer, Canberra, June 19, 2008 Letters

Murray health report has food security ramifications

19/06/2008 1:28:00 PM, The Stock and Land

Pipeline dream for advocates of Lake Mokoan

David Rood, 19 June, The Age

Water savings spring another leak as losses plummet

ALISON BARBER, 18/06/2008 7:20:00 PM, The Stock and Land

Above and Below - Another Broken Promise From the Foodbowl Unlimited

$30k meter quotes prompt Food Bowl cost blowout fears

ALISON BARBER,18/06/2008 7:12:00 PM, Stock and Land

New leaks spring from Brumby's water plan

The Herald Sun, June 18, Andrew Bolt Readers' Comments

Murray-Darling "months from disaster"

18/06/2008 11:21:00, The Stock and Land

Rare tree feared cut in pipeline survey

17th June 2008 02:04:36 AM, K Gannaway

Water top of the agenda at forum

Bendigo Weekly, 16 June

Farmers to get less water as Brumby pipe plan starts up

Melissa Fyfe, June 15, 2008, The Age

Logic evaporates in water solution

Alan Moran, The Herald Sun , 14 June

Premier John Brumby warns protest groups

Norrie Ross, June 14, 2008 12:00am, The Herald Sun, Readers' Comments

Water 'the petrol of the 21st century' as world faces dire shortages

The Age, Ambrose Evans-Prichard

Opponents of Victorian desalination plant must pay costs

The Herald Sun, June 14

Drought at the flick of a switch

Andrew Bolte, The Herald Sun , 14 June

Tims Holding a Dead Duck

Plug the Pipe Media Release, 13th June 2008 Proof that the Government Plan is Fundumentally Flawed

Vic irrigation season the worst on record

13/06/2008 1:51:00 PM, The Land

Worst season for Goulburn Murray irrigators

By Kath Sullivan, Friday, 13/06/2008, ABC

Stage 3a here to stay

John Ferguson, June 11, 2008 12:06pm, The Herald Sun

Nationals use water recycling figures to attack pipeline plan

Posted Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:22am AEST, ABC

Council’s stance on pipeline questioned

10/06/2008 8:37:00 AM, The Bendigo Advertiser

When water defenders are ugly, liars

The Hon Dr Sharman Stone MP, Thu, 5th June 2008

Lake Wendouree's disappearing act

June 10, 2008 12:00am, The Herald Sun

Cost blowout

June 10 2008, Kyabram Free Press

Powell Condemns Premier Brumby In Parliament Over "Liar'' Comment

Tuesday, 10 June 2008, The Nationals

Plug it protest

By Melissa Meehan, 10th June 2008 02:00:24 AM, The Star Group

Geelong residents pay 80%, while Ballarat pays 10%

Jeff Whalley, 10Jun08, The Geelong Advertiser

Both sides pile on the pressure

10th June 2008 02:01:41 AM – Melissa Meehan

Against the flow

By Jo Chandler, June 7, 2008, The AGE

Farmers descend on Melbourne

Sue Bolton, 7 June 2008, The Green Left

UGLY and LIARS Victorian Government claims anti-pipe protesters are

June 6 2008, Kyabram Free Press

Response to the 'Ross McPherson Letter'

The AGE, 6 June, Letters to the Editor

Holding 'Like A Rabbit In The Spotlight'

Friday, 6 June 2008, The Nationals

YouTube - BRUMBYS LIAR'S PLUG THE PIPE

Defiant Brumby stands by water 'liar' claim

David Rood, June 5, 2008, The AGE

Pipeline opponents urged to quit over comments

Posted June 5, 2008 13:45:00, ABC

Brumby 'resorting to personal attacks' over water pipeline

Posted Wed Jun 4, 2008 10:00pm AEST, ABC

Brumby stands by liar claim

June 4, 2008 - 5:53PM, The Brisbane Times

Brumby maintains attack on pipe foes

Rick Wallace, June 4, 2008 , The Australian

Continued superpipe opposition is wrong - Attack On Eril Rathjen

Bob Cameron MP, 4/06/2008 7:31:00 AM, The Bendigo Advertiser

Eril's Response

Letter to the Editor

Mr Bob Cameron’s comments (The Advertiser, June 4 see above link) are as mis-informed as they are entertaining. Once again we see the Brumby team deliberately distorting facts, telling lies and insulting northern Victorians. I would like to remind Mr Cameron that I am not a member of a political party and act solely as spokesperson for “Plug the Pipe”; a community group intent on stopping the construction of the North-South Pipeline to Melbourne.

Clearly Mr Cameron has his pipes confused.

Spending a minimum of $750 million on a pipeline that will remove water from the stressed Murray Darling Basin and from productive agriculture will result in environmental and economic loss for our region.

If Mr Cameron was serious about protecting the water security of Bendigo residents he would be vigorously protesting the Coliban Water Essential Services Commission’s report recommendation to halve spending on rural reconfiguration from $40 million to $20 million. The appalling losses that are occurring in the antiquated earthen delivery channels should not be tolerated at this time of critical water shortage.

Coliban water bills are anticipated to increase by 82.5% over the next five years and the people of Bendigo, now dependent on a failing dam, still languish on Stage 4 restrictions. Mr Cameron has demonstrated that he is unaware of real solutions to Bendigo’s precarious position regarding water security and he is incapable of alleviating the burden.

Eril Rathjen

Premier won't apologise to protesters

June 4, 2008 - 3:29PM , Source: ABC

Brumby 'resorting to personal attacks' over water pipeline

Wednesday, June 04, Yahoo 7

Photographs of the Muster

Wednesday, June 04, DayLife (American International Site)

Photographs of the Muster

Wednesday, June 04, MediaFax (French International Site)

“Liar” is no way to win votes

Andrew Bolt , Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 10:48am, The Herald Sun

Holding supports Premier over pipe protest

June 4, 2008, ABC

Brumby to the bush: stop lying

David Rood and Adam Morton, June 4, 2008, The Age

Cattle Dog Protest

June 4, 2008, ABC

Pipeline protesters consider legal action

Posted Wed Jun 4, 2008 7:31am AEST, ABC

Water Minister needs to be transparent

4/06/2008 7:32:00 AM, The Bendigo Advertiser

An alternative Food Bowl plan