Wednesday, 31 May 2023

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (18:09): (268) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Water and concerns an extraordinary proposal by Central Highlands Water to increase some charges over the next five years by 500 per cent. In its 2023 water price review submission to the Essential Services Commission, the water authority – a government entity – wants to increase water and wastewater charges for new growth zones from $1500 to $8000 per lot. Elsewhere, such as infill or current building areas, the increase would be 65 per cent of that amount. Quite rightly, the commission is unimpressed and has told Central Highlands Water as much. Central Highlands Water is not inclined to change its plan, arguing that it has ways to help customers deal with the increase. But one way or another, mum-and-dad customers, first home buyers and some of the 1.5 million immigrants coming to Australia in the next three years will still need to pay the much, much bigger bill. Central Highlands Water covers an area of Victoria including Maryborough, Clunes, Avoca, Waubra and Beaufort. If you want to wander down easy street, you will not find it in any of these locations. Yet this water authority clearly has its eyes shut to reality as if it exists in an isolated financial bubble.

Thanks to the Andrews government, energy bills are already unaffordable for too many. Is water the next battleground? These are essential services we are talking about – needs, not wants. It was just days ago that the Premier’s latest budget was handed down. He told the media:

We’re doing what matters – supporting families, jobs and fairness in rural and regional Victoria.

He needs to explain what is fair about a 500 per cent increase to the cost of getting water and wastewater connected to a building block. Such plans would have it running faster than inflation. The commission is assessing the price review for 14 water authorities, nine of which it is rather worried about: Wannon Water, Southern Rural Water and Coliban Water are on that list. The action I seek of the minister is that she gets involved in this impending financial disaster to ensure that an authority under her auspices does not slug Victorians unfairly and cruelly for the most essential service of all: water.