Fed: PM says VIctoria won't get special deal on water plan

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2007
Fed: PM says VIctoria won't get special deal on water plan

CANBERRA, April 13 AAP - Victoria will not be offered any more than the other states
have been offered to get them to accept the Murray-Darling basin water plan, Prime Minister
John Howard says.

Mr Howard today said he had been talking to Victorian Premier Steve Bracks during the
week and there appeared to have been some progress.

He said he was surprised to hear today that Mr Bracks wasn't budging.

Mr Howard said the water plan wasn't on the agenda for today's COAG meeting so failure
to reach agreement would not spell its demise.

He said NSW, the ACT, Queensland and South Australia had all agreed.

"It has been left to Victoria and the commonwealth to separately discuss Victoria's
position," he told Southern Cross radio in Victoria.

"We are not going to give Victoria something that we haven't given or won't give to
the other states."

NSW, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT agreed at a special water summit in February
to cede their powers over the Murray-Darling Basin to the commonwealth in exchange for
a huge upgrade of irrigation infrastructure.

Victoria opposed the package but there have been ongoing negotiations with the commonwealth
since the meeting.

Mr Howard said Victoria should sign up because the plan could not proceed without the state.

"It is like a three-legged horse," he said.

"I notice that the National party in Victoria, which has previously been holding out,
has now signed up. I hope the Victorian farmers will now do the same. That is a matter
for them.

"This is a huge opportunity for Victoria."

Mr Howard said talks with Mr Bracks in the week suggested they were making progress.

"I will continually to take him at his word in that private conversation," he said.

AAP mb/jt/cdh

KEYWORD: WATER HOWARD

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