Fed: Howard tells Victoria to sign up to water deal

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2007
Fed: Howard tells Victoria to sign up to water deal

CANBERRA, April 10 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard says he would prefer all the states
to have signed up to his $10 billion water plan for the Murray-Darling River before answering
their call for a $7 billion reform program.

The Australian newspaper reported today that state governments have challenged the
prime minister to fund a new $7 billion national reform program to boost productivity.

"We are trying to spend $10 billion on water security, but I can't get the agreement
of the Victorian premier," Mr Howard told journalists today.

"I think it would be a good idea if we decided on the plan to spend the $10 billion
before we start talking about plans to spend another $7 billion."

Although the other Murray-Darling basin states have agreed to sign up to the water
plan, Mr Howard has failed so far to persuade Victorian Premier Steve Bracks to accept
it.

However, Mr Howard said the water deal was not a condition of moving on to other proposals.

"It's strange to me that a premier who is holding up consummation of a $10 billion
investment in Australia's water future should be moving on telling us how we could spend
another seven."

"I think Mr Bracks should sign up to water deal. I thought he was going to and I hope
he still does."

The proposed $7 billion program takes aim at key education, health and regulatory obstacles
to increased productivity as part of a 10-year plan.

"We have got an agenda, I haven't even seen this $7 billion plan, but it sound like
a normal COAG meeting where states are asking the commonwealth for billions more," Mr
Howard said.

"Because of the strong economy we have the states imagining that there are large amounts
of money available."

The Council of Australian governments (COAG) meeting of the prime minister, state premiers
and chief ministers of the territories will be held in Canberra on Friday.

"I want the meeting on Friday to be successful. We should all set about being quiet
achievers in the interest of the federation on Friday," Mr Howard said.

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KEYWORD: COAG HOWARD

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