WHAT DID THE EASTER BUNNY BRING?

摘要

The phrase "Christmas has come early" generally suggests that something good has happened. This year Easter has come early and I have been searching to see if the economy or our political leaders may have sent the water sector some good news. Sadly, there's not much fun to report on that front. As we settle deeper into the longest election campaign of all time, the issues of water policy or reform are notorious in their absence from the front pages. True, there are headlines -just not the sort I might have hoped for. We seem to have seen the full gamut in recent weeks, from a resurgence in concern regarding recycling, to complaints about cuts to rebates for water efficiency; that providing a flexible service offering is viewed as favouring the rich; while in regional Australia, safe drinking water is apparently not to be taken for granted. Of course, the desalination plant in Victoria can't take a trick - no-one wants to buy its water (least of all the Minister); it is involved in litigation seeking to recoup cost overruns - and now it is alleged that its pipes leak. Even fluoride is back on the agenda!