Anna and Liz perfect their 'good cop bad cop' routine ...

... with a little help from Peter.

First, establish a so-called 'independent' Commission to look at the contentious issue of water.

Next, let it release all the bad news.

Let the voters blame the Commission and hang the Commission head out to dry a few times.

And then strike a middle ground not quite as unpleasant for voters.

Unrealistic view of Qld politics?

Excerpt from the Courier Mail (annotated - remember all these people and entities are part of the same Qld Labor government):

State hoses down water price rise fears

9 March 2007

The Queensland Government [Qld Labor government] has moved to hose down fears of hefty water prices under southeast Queensland's new level five restrictions.

Queensland Water Commissioner Elizabeth Nosworthy [also Qld Labor government] today announced details of the restrictions, due to come into force on April 10, including a rise in water prices from next year of between 13 and 22 per cent, or an average increase of $71 a year.
...

Deputy Premier Anna Bligh [Qld Labor government] said the rise was too high and would come into effect too soon.

“I have instructed Treasury [also Qld Labor government] to look at the models, including whether or not we adopt a cost recovery approach to see how we can minimise the impact on consumers,” Ms Bligh.

“I think people do understand that it's better to pay more for water than not have enough of it but they also know it's got to be reasonable.

“Water is an essential service and I will not see it priced beyond the reach of ordinary Queenslanders, and if that means we have to breach the national water initiative principles then we will do that.”

Ms Bligh [Qld Labor government] said the five-year timeframe outlined by the water commission [Qld Labor government] was too short.

“We'll be looking at spreading the pain over a much longer period of time and we will be looking at whether cost recovery should apply in these circumstances,” Ms Bligh said.

See - Qld Labor government talks with itself.

In summary, the Qld Labor government says that the price rises that the Qld Labor government have proposed are too high and they will be reviewed by the Qld Labor government. The Qld Labor government also believes that the timeframe for price increases proposed by the Qld Labor government are too short and the Qld Labor government will look at implementing them over a longer period.

Politics ...