The Queensland National's have their state policy platform [pdf] up on their website. Like most of the Australian party platforms it is fairly reasonable and often at odds with their media presence and party stereotype. Their water policies caught my eye.

The National's policy toward water first declares water's importance to the life, environment and economy of the state. They write that they believe the state has a role in supplying water in a fair and equitable manner. They also see improvements that can be made to develop the water supply as well as efficiencies to use water more effectively - such as recycling.

Among their beliefs are;

The State Government should facilitate the storage and mobility of water using both private and public infrastructure.

The State and Federal Government should make the development of water infrastructure to support the maintenance and expansion of industry a high priority. ...

The State Government should invest significantly in recycled water programs, water conservation measures and the development of desalination technology.

They have a section on Water Rights which deals with existing entitlements and the Water Act 2000, which I am no familiar with. I presume that this is to do with rural supply of water for industrial purposes such as stock and grazing.

The Nationals seek to subsidise the cost of water so that it is delivered at cost;

The price of water for irrigation from existing schemes ['rural water'] should be capped at the cost of operating, maintaining and refurbishing water schemes.

Though this doesn't appear to be for urban purposes. The Nationals are also not against reusing recycled water for non-potable purposes. This makes sense despite the recent Toowoomba referendum;

The use of treated recycled water and wastewater should be supported for non-potable purposes.

Desalination, storm water reuse and other innovative water saving options should be investigated.

They do mention in their policy that they see further development of water infrastructure as necessary;

We should unlock the benefits of further water development in Queensland, manage water resources in an environmentally sustainable way and promote the rights of water users.

Their policies have a strong rural focus which is their main constituency and they do not deny that they would seek water development, such as dams which are dominating the Queensland media at the moment . However their water policy contains the language of sustainability, environmentalism, efficiency, conservation and reuse.

Given the non-seasonal nature of Australian water and its scarcity in comparison to other continents. I don't think any party has the choice to ignore those stances on water.

Cam Riley: South Sea Republic. Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic.

Comments
  • adam . # .
    It\'s true: It is heartening to see the Nationals (and Labor) paying attention to efficiency and distributed storage, but they\'re policy is also to build three new dams, in slightly less stupid places than Labor. That\'s why I see them as retaining a command economy, Soviets industrialising Siberia, mindset.
  • cam . # .
    Their policy document leaves the way open for: major water works such as dams even though it doesnt mention it explicitly. Probably not a good idea politically to stick in the policy document that they are going to stick a dam in your backyard.

    It becomes a hard balancing act for the voter, what can you trust as the basis for their future decisions, the statements from their mouths in the media, what the media presses them on, or their policy documents. Often they give three totally different impressions.

    cam
  • adam . # .
    Its in the SEQ policy: Here :

    The Queensland Coalition\'s plan includes:
    * $500 million for the construction of three new dams at Wyaralong, Glendower, and Amamoor Creek and the raising of the Borumba Dam;

    Their other suggestions - rebates and recylced water usage - are good.
  • cam . # .
    The Qld Liberals link to this SEQ Water Policy: from their policy page too.

    cam