South-West Tablelands Water Supply Administration (Repeal) Bill

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Speakers - Page Mr Donald; Nagle Mr Peter; Anderson Mr James; Yeadon Mr Kim
Business - Bill, Second Reading

SOUTH-WEST TABLELANDS WATER SUPPLY ADMINISTRATION (REPEAL) BILL

Second Reading

Debate resumed from 12 November.

Mr D. L. PAGE (Ballina) [2.32 p.m.]: I indicate at the outset that the Opposition will not oppose this bill, the purpose of which is to repeal the South-west Tablelands Water Supply Administration Act 1941; to transfer the assets and liabilities of South-west Tablelands Water Supply, together with the Department of Public Works and Services employees engaged on the scheme, to the newly formed Goldenfields Water County Council; and to provide appropriate savings and transitional provisions. The Opposition has had little time in which to consult the parties affected by this legislation. However, I understand from the consultations I have been able to undertake that there is no real objection to what is proposed.

The mechanics involved are well covered in the Minister’s second reading speech. It makes sense to have two county councils providing water supply services to the Riverina area. One county council, Riverina Water, is to carry out the water operations of the former Southern Riverina Electricity and Water; another county council, Goldenfields Water, is to be formed by amalgamating the water operations of the former Northern Riverina Electricity and Water, Young and Hardy councils, and the SWTWS. The Opposition welcomes the fact that the employees will transfer on the same rates of pay and under the same working conditions as currently apply until a new industrial instrument is made to cover their employment with the county council. The employees will carry over accumulated service and leave entitlements to the new employer. The Minister said in his second reading speech:

The rural communities impact statement confirms that the decision to form two county councils in the Riverina area will be an advantage for the local communities involved.

That being the case, can the Minister make public the rural communities impact statement so that we can read it? I do not doubt that it confirms the decision. However, it is highly desirable that the people of the Riverina have an opportunity to examine it; the statement may point to matters of concern, notwithstanding that overall it may be supportive of the proposal. As I indicated at the outset, despite the Opposition having limited time to consult widely on the bill, the consultation that has taken place indicates that there is no real opposition to the legislation; indeed, there is support for it. For that reason the Opposition will not oppose the bill.

Mr NAGLE (Auburn) [2.35 p.m.]: I commend the Government for introducing this worthwhile legislation, and I thank the Opposition for their support for it. The bill provides for the streamlining of water supply in the south-west region which will result in cost savings. This is yet another example of the Government doing good work for the country people of New South Wales.

Mr ANDERSON (St Marys) [2.36 p.m.]: I support this legislation, which provides for the
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transfer of staff, assets, rights and liabilities of the south-west tablelands water supply scheme to the new Goldfields Water County Council in the Riverina area. The bill will repeal the South-west Tablelands Water Supply Act 1924 and the South-west Tablelands Water Supply Administration Act 1941 and enact consequential provisions covering transfer of staff of the south-west scheme; transfer of assets, rights and liabilities of the scheme; and savings and transitional provisions. The south-west scheme is a government business enterprise under the control of the Minister for Land and Water Conservation. In recent years the south-west scheme has been operated by the Department of Public Works and Services under contract on behalf of the Director-General of the Department of Land and Water Conservation, who is the administrator of the scheme under the South-west Tablelands Water Supply Administration Act.

The new Goldenfields Water County Council has been fully operational since 1 July 1997. Goldenfields Water was proclaimed under the Local Government Act 1993 on 2 May 1997. Its functions involve the provision of water services to eight council areas: Junee, Temora, West Wyalong, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Young, Harden and part of Narrandera. Goldenfields Water was created following a review of the water functions carried out on an interim basis by electricity distributors. The review included examination of the arrangements for the South-west Tablelands Water Supply. Interim arrangements have been put in place to enable Goldenfields Water to carry out the functions of the south-west scheme until the formal transfer under this legislation.

I am particularly pleased to note that the needs of the 26 staff of the Department of Public Works and Services who operate the south-west scheme have been considered. A working group with two union representatives and employer representatives was formed to assist in ensuring that all existing employees are treated fairly. The bill includes the following features to protect the rights and entitlements of these staff. There is a general saving of conditions of employment, and persons transferred retain present leave entitlements. The superannuation entitlements of the staff are preserved in accordance with the provisions of the Superannuation Administration (Local Government Superannuation Transitional Provisions) Regulation 1997. For three years staff who are presently public servants employed under the Public Sector Management Act 1988 will be able to apply for positions in the public service as if they were still public servants.

Service with the new county council of any such employee who returns to the public sector within this period is to be recognised. Each of the transferred staff who performs the duties assigned to him or her by Goldenfields Water County Council is guaranteed employment for a period of three years. I share the view of the Minister for Land and Water Conservation that the people of Cootamundra, Young, Harden, Junee, West Wyalong, Temora and Coolamon will be better served as a result of these reforms. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr YEADON (Granville - Minister for Land and Water Conservation) [2.40 p.m.], in reply: I thank honourable members who have contributed to the debate - the honourable member for Ballina, who led on behalf of the Opposition, the honourable member for St Marys and the honourable member for Auburn. I consulted widely before making a decision to establish the new county councils, particularly with the affected councils and unions. The report on the review of water functions of electricity distributors recommended a single large county council in the Riverina area but the councils convinced me that two county councils would be able to achieve the same cost savings as a single county council and would also better represent the interests of the local communities. I thank the representatives of Riverina councils with whom I met directly to discuss these issues for the co-operative way in which they approached the matter.

A working group with two union representatives and employer representatives was also formed to assist in implementing the new county councils and to ensure that all existing employees will be treated fairly. The Department of Local Government and the Department of Public Works and Services support the proposed legislation. The honourable member for Ballina asked that the rural impact statement on this legislation be publicly circulated. Rural impact statements are a component of Cabinet minutes and are subject to Cabinet confidentiality. The issue that he has raised is beyond my portfolio and I suggest that he make the request to the Cabinet Office or the Premier’s Office. I commend the bill to the House.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a second time and passed through remaining stages.

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