Cathy O'Toole (Herbert, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise in this place today proud to stand with Labor. On Tuesday, 2 May 2017, the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, and I stood at the Ross River Dam in Herbert electorate to announce Labor's commitment to Townsville's water security and to reducing energy costs. A Shorten-led Labor government will commit $200 million in financing to construct a new hydroelectric power station at the Burdekin Falls dam, putting downward pressure on power bills and creating 150 local jobs.

Labor will also commit $100 million to ensure much-needed water security and local jobs for Townsville by incorporating the findings of the water task force in consultation with the city council and the Queensland government. This may include a gravity-fed pipeline that will reduce evaporation and secure water for Townsville residents and businesses.

Recently, the Townsville Water Taskforce, chaired by local businessman Brad Webb, held three community consultations in Townsville. I attended each of these consultations, and the message from residents was very clear. They are sick and tired of feasibility studies and bandaid solutions. They simply want real action. Water and power are critical issues for the Herbert electorate, and once again Labor is leading the way by committing funding to these infrastructure projects and creating local jobs. Labor led the way with our stadium, and now we are doing it again with water and power solutions. If the Turnbull government continues to turn a blind eye in the north, these issues will only become more desperate. I strongly urge the Turnbull government to match Labor's commitment and to understand that, if it is good enough for the south, it is good enough for the north. (Time expired)