Press Releases

Member for Mildura Peter Crisp has urged shadow Treasurer and former Labor Water Minister Tim Holding to take the Mildura ALP branch to task over its stand on the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

Though its president 

A jobs and investment forum in Mildura next Tuesday cannot ignore the two major causes of job losses over the next three years.

The forum will be hosted by shadow Treasurer Tim Holding, who many people in Mildura, particularly irrigators, will remember from his term as Water Minister in the Brumby Labor government. Mr Holding presided over construction of the North-South pipeline and the start of construction of the Wonthaggi desalination plant.

“Both projects are outrageously expensive white elephants, a drain on taxpayer funds for decades to come,” says Member for Mildura Peter Crisp.

“It’s ironic that Tim Holding will be in town to get ideas for development of a jobs plan, given his record of waste as Water Minister, and the loss of jobs resulting from Labor’s carbon tax and Murray Darling Basin Plan.

“A report in by Deloitte Access Economics estimates 35,000 fewer jobs in Victoria by 2015 as a direct consequence of the carbon tax. Of those, 16,000 (46%) will be in the small business sector.”

"The carbon tax takes effect from July 1, but job losses from the Murray Darling Basin Plan can still be averted," says Peter Crisp.

“As a former Water Minister, Mr Holding would appreciate the fragility of the region’s irrigated horticulture industries and how they’re still trying to get back on their feet after years’ of drought, water restrictions, collapse in markets and high Australian dollar.

“He should also be aware that horticultural communities in Sunraysia have been singled out in the Basin Plan as ‘more vulnerable’, and that implementation of the Basin Plan will result in fewer jobs being created than otherwise would be the case.

“The most positive contribution the shadow Treasurer and former Water Minister could make to a jobs plan would be to denounce the redrafted Basin Plan draft as an attack on job creation and irrigators’ livelihoods.”

Lake Cullulleraine residents will receive better quality water for domestic use with the construction of a 2.5 kilometre enclosed water main and pump unit.

The $480,000 project has been jointly funded by Lower Murray Water and the Victorian Coalition Government through the latest round of the government’s Small Towns Water Quality Fund.

Member for Mildura Peter Crisp said as well as the construction of a water main and pump to service 35 properties, multiple pumps from the Lake Cullulleraine foreshore would be decommissioned, reducing potential health risks and improving the amenity of the area.

Mr Crisp said by improving water quality in Glenthompson, the growth and development of the wider region would also improve.

“This will deliver high quality water to the residents of Lake Cullulleraine, as well as enhancing the quality of stay for the many people who enjoy holidaying at the Lake.” Mr Crisp stated.

This latest round of works under the Small Towns Water Quality Fund includes eight projects which involve the building of pipelines, upgrades to water treatment plants and installation of a UV-treatment system.

More information about the Small Towns Water Quality Fund is available at

The Victorian Coalition Government will boost rebates on water-efficient products, making them available to all Victorian households from July 1.

Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, said the Coalition Government was delivering on a key election commitment by doubling funding for rebates on water-efficient products to $40 million over the next four years.

“For the first time, rebates for water-efficient products will be made available to help all Victorians – including those on non-reticulated systems – become water efficient in their homes and gardens,” Mr Crisp said.

“In the face of rising water bills, these rebates will help households make great savings by installing a rainwater tank or purchasing water-efficient appliances.

“Up to $1000 is available for rainwater tanks that are designed and manufactured to Australian standards and are connected to a house’s toilet and laundry.

“Rainwater tanks help us use our water efficiently and deliver year-round savings. They also assist in minimising stormwater runoff and pollution associated with the runoff.”

Mr Crisp said the Coalition Government had also made rebates available on a new range of appliances including washing machines and pool covers.

“Washing machines are one of the biggest water users in the home and this $150 rebate provides the incentive people need to install the most water-efficient models,” Mr Crisp said.

“A rebate of $200 has also been introduced for the first time on the cost of pool covers.

“As we plan for a future with more people and climate change, we need to identify solutions for using and managing the water we have.

“We need to be smarter with the use of our water in our cities and towns to make the most of every drop in our homes and gardens,” Mr Crisp said.

For more information about rebates available under the Living Victoria Water Rebate Program, contact your local water authority or visit

The settlement between Victoria and South Australia on Victoria’s water trade rules is a victory for commonsense and good news for Victorian irrigators, says Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp. 

“The settlement with South Australia over the High Court battle is a victory for commonsense. It has protected the rights of Victorian irrigators and avoided a long and costly legal battle.” Mr Crisp said.

“At a time when we need to be preparing for a new Murray Darling Basin plan we should not be involved in a protracted High Court dispute with a neighbour.” Mr Crisp said.

South Australia launched its challenge against Victoria’s four per cent cap on water trade in 2009, alleging Victoria’s water trading rules were in breach of the Australian Constitution. 

Under the cap, no more than four per cent of Victoria’s water entitlement can be permanently traded out of a zone each year, Mr Crisp said. 

Under the agreement, there is no change to the time frames for the phasing out of the four per cent cap, which Victoria will lift in June 2014, as was agreed at COAG in May 2009, he said. 

Victoria has agreed to sign Schedule G and H of the Murray Darling Basin Agreement, which gives South Australia the right to store water in the Hume and Dartmouth water storages, to meet critical human needs and private carryover allocations in the following year. 

However, in the event the storages spill, South Australia will lose its carryover water before Victorian entitlement holders, Mr Crisp said. 

South Australia will also be required to prepare an annual plan to ensure there is no impact on water availability for the upper states, he added. 

Schedule H sets out the arrangements for water sharing in circumstances of very low water availability and establishes the concept of a conveyance reserve to be held in reserve each year to ensure, if necessary, the delivery of critical human water needs in the Murray system in the following year. 

Mr Crisp said he understood this reserve is likely to be held in the Snowy storages, freeing up space in Hume and Dartmouth dams, to allow harvesting of more water for Murray entitlement holders in Victoria and New South Wales.