Premier Beattie caught lying over water ...

... but it was in Parliament so that doesn't count.

Premier Beattie's response:

"The truth of the matter is the truth's the truth and I've said the truth."

Perhaps the better response would have been:

"The truth of the matter is that whatever I say must be taken as the truth and therefore I've said the truth so there."

Excerpt from the Courier Mail:

MPs' dam blast

8 June 2007

Premier Peter Beattie has been accused of fudging this week's rainfall results to bolster the Government's decision to build the controversial Traveston Crossing Dam.

Mr Beattie claimed in Parliament on Wednesday that the catchment area of the dam had recorded falls of up to 70mm in the previous 24 hours.

However, after concerns about his figures were raised by Independent MP Peter Wellington, Mr Beattie yesterday clarified his statement.

He said he was referring to rainfall recorded at Maleny in the 72 hours before Wednesday morning, and the area had "since recorded a further 72 millimetres".

But official rainfall figures show Maleny recorded just 27mm in the 24 hours to yesterday morning.

Nationals MP David Gibson also revealed that Maleny's rainfall would flow into the existing Baroon Pocket Dam along Obi Obi Creek, rather than into the Mary River where the dam will be built.

Mr Beattie denied misleading Parliament, saying Bureau of Meteorology maps showed Maleny was in the Traveston catchment.

"It's high in the catchment; it's where the water comes from," he said.

"The truth of the matter is the truth's the truth and I've said the truth."

However, Mr Gibson said the Premier had been caught being "loose with the truth".

"Maleny does fall in the catchment of the Mary River," he said. "But what you have to remember is the rain that falls in Maleny is caught by the Baroon Pocket Dam.

"Unless the Premier is planning to blow up the Baroon Pocket Dam, it will not get to the Traveston Crossing dam."

Mr Beattie later released a statement saying the weather bureau included Maleny in the catchment for its flood maps for the "Mary Valley".
...

See - Beattie - it's ok to lie because my legislation says I can.

Also see - Fiery scenes in State Parliament.

Opposition Leader Seeney: "Peter Beattie is a disgrace. Peter Beattie is a liar and he's been proven to be a liar and the fact that the Speaker threw me out is irrelevant. What's relevant here is Peter Beattie's dishonesty."