Rural Water Charges

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Speakers - Page Mr Donald; Yeadon Mr Kim
Business - Questions Without Notice

RURAL WATER CHARGES

Mr D. L. PAGE: Will the Minister for Land and Water Conservation withdraw immediately the recently announced increases of up to 86 per cent in rural water charges and await the determination of the Government Pricing Tribunal, as he and his party promised in their election platform?

Mr YEADON: Members of the National Party have really taken over. All honourable members would be aware of the altercation between the Leader of the National Party and the honourable member for Ermington during the last sitting about who would ask the final question. Of course, members of the National Party prevailed. As a result a number of Liberal backbenchers sent a delegation to the office of the Leader of the Opposition to tell him that it was not on, that they needed more balance in the equation, and that more members of the Liberal Party should get a run in the Parliament. But it seems that their plea to the Leader of the Opposition fell on deaf ears. The National Party is ruling the roost in the coalition today. The days of the Leader of the Opposition are numbered, I suggest.

Mr Longley: On a point of order: the question was clearly about an 86 per cent increase in water costs by the Labor Government. The Minister has not yet dealt with the question. What he is saying has no relevance to the question.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The point taken by the honourable member for Pittwater is not without substance. The Minister will answer the question.

Mr YEADON: Who said that the Liberals did not have courage? The answer to the first part of the question is that the honourable member's calculations are incorrect. It is not an 86 per cent increase. The answer to the second part of the question is no.

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