Drinking recycled sewage - those for and against (updated) ...

The scoreboard as it currently stands:

Toowoomba City Council

Councillor Barron - against

"For me, I don't believe I've signed off on it." (Toowoomba Chronicle 20 October 2005)

Councillor Beer - against

"All the way along, all this stuff has been kept too hush-hush." (Toowoomba Chronicle 20 October 2005)

Councillor Shelton - against

"I think it will be hard to sell drinking recycled sewage when 27,000 megalitres of proven, safe yield of potable water is available within kilometres of the city,'' Cr Shelton said. ``It doesn't make sense to put potable water on cotton and drink recycled effluent." (Courier Mail 13 October 2005)

Mayor Thorley - for

"I'm finding it really depressing that I'm sitting here and there are people acting like they didn't agree with the project." (Toowoomba Chronicle 20 October 2005)

Deputy Mayor Ramia - for

Councillor Albion - for

Councillor Alroe - for

Councillor Englart - for

Councillor Schneider - for

Qld State politicians

The Hon. Peter Beattie MP, Premier - against (but inconsistent views being given by his fellow Ministers)

"What we're trying to do is free up drinking water for drinking."

In relation to clean drinking water, he said:

"Instead of using it in industry, instead of using it in on our garden, there is a clear strategy here and it makes good sense."

See - Courier Mail article

The Hon. Kerry Shine MP - seems to be in favour of it so far

The Hon. Henry Palaszczuk - publicly not in favour of it but sending mixed signals:

From the Australian Financial Review on 30 September 2005:

"But [Qld] Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, who is Council of Mayors (SEQ) chairman, stopped short of backing recycled water for domestic consumption."

The Hon. Mike Horan MP - against

"I have real concerns that there are other alternatives which should be looked at first."

See - Qld Parliament Hansard - 9 November 2005

The Hon. Ray Hopper MP - against

"The Toowoomba City Council mayor has been talking about recycled sewage and waste water. I do not expect anyone to have to drink that water. I talk to people in that city all the time. Most of those people are very, very unhappy. The people are even worried about the thought of having coffee in that town. There are other ways of providing water to Toowoomba."

"I ask the Minister to seriously look at the situation in Toowoomba, because no-one wants to drink their own sewage."

See - Qld Parliament Hansard - 10 November 2005

Federal politicians

The Hon. Ian Macfarlane MP - against

"I still support parts of the project to supply recycled water for industry, resources and agriculture. However, given information I have obtained from independent sources I am currently unable to support recycled effluent being discharged into Cooby Dam."

"I cannot support the proposal as it stands until all of these unresolved issues are properly addressed, detailed explanations on costings and technology made public, and all options fully investigated and costed."

The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP - against

See - ABC Insiders

The Hon. Greg Hunt MP - against

See - Water Myths

The Hon. Gary Nairn MP - against

See - Water Myths

The Hon. John Howard MP, Prime Minister - unknown so far

Others

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman - against

From the Australian Financial Review on 30 September 2005:

"But [Qld] Natural Resources Minister Henry Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, who is Council of Mayors (SEQ) chairman, stopped short of backing recycled water for domestic consumption."

Commerce Queensland - against

“The major concern now is that, if we do not fully assess the alternatives and health perceptions, Toowoomba will miss out altogether on Federal Funding and the local Ratepayers may be left to pay the bill. A Regional Water Plan looking at all alternatives is crucial for the overall benefit of the region."

See - Commerce Qld press release - 1 November 2005

I'll add more as their views become known ...