Anna Bligh confirms that Nosworthy is out - axed from QWC ...
Yahoo News:
Govt let QWC budget blow out, Oppn says
20 May 2009
The State Opposition says it is important that the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) continues with its work despite changes to its structure.
Premier Anna Bligh confirmed earlier today that Elizabeth Nosworthy will not continue in the role of Queensland's Water Commissioner once her contract expires in June.
Ms Nosworthy has headed the QWC since it was established three years ago.
Ms Bligh also said the QWC will be restructured and that there will only be one Commissioner instead of three.
She says other changes will save $7 million over four years, on top of $15 million cut from the Queensland Water Commission's (QWC) public relations budget.
Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek has declined to comment on Ms Nosworthy's performance, but says the State Government let the QWC budget blow out to 14 times the original amount.
"I notice there's a sizeable scaling back from the Commissioner and the number of Deputy Commissioners," he said.
"But really we just want to see the water infrastructure plan that the Government's brought in at great expense work efficiently, so Queenslanders can get decent water in 2009."
See - Anna Bligh axes Nosworthy from QWC.
20 May 2009
The State Opposition says it is important that the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) continues with its work despite changes to its structure.
Premier Anna Bligh confirmed earlier today that Elizabeth Nosworthy will not continue in the role of Queensland's Water Commissioner once her contract expires in June.
Ms Nosworthy has headed the QWC since it was established three years ago.
Ms Bligh also said the QWC will be restructured and that there will only be one Commissioner instead of three.
She says other changes will save $7 million over four years, on top of $15 million cut from the Queensland Water Commission's (QWC) public relations budget.
Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek has declined to comment on Ms Nosworthy's performance, but says the State Government let the QWC budget blow out to 14 times the original amount.
"I notice there's a sizeable scaling back from the Commissioner and the number of Deputy Commissioners," he said.
"But really we just want to see the water infrastructure plan that the Government's brought in at great expense work efficiently, so Queenslanders can get decent water in 2009."
See - Anna Bligh axes Nosworthy from QWC.
Back in March, 4350water blog suggested that Nosworthy would be shuffled out the back door following the State election.
Seems this was correct.
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 2:33 PM
7 Comments:
Brisbane Times:
QLD Water Commissioner to stand down
May 20, 2009
South-East Queensland's controversial water commissioner will stand down from the job when her contract expires next month.
Elizabeth Nosworthy was criticised for building a large swimming pool at her north Brisbane home, while the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) imposed tough water restrictions on the drought-stricken southeast.
The region is still under water restrictions, and despite dams tipping 60 per cent overnight with heavy rain, the rules won't be relaxed until December.
Sixty per cent was a previous trigger point for loosening the restrictions.
Premier Anna Bligh told state parliament on Wednesday the combined total of the region's dams was now 62.6 per cent.
It was five years to the day since they were last 60 per cent full, Ms Bligh said.
"We found ourselves in the most dire of predicaments as the water supplies in our dams shrivelled to frightening levels of below 20 per cent," she said.
"But today we find ourselves at the other end of the spectrum."
Ms Bligh said she would introduce a bill to parliament on Wednesday to modify the QWC, reducing its three commissioners to one.
Ms Nosworthy, the body's commissioner since its inception three years ago, would stand down when her contract expires on June 18, she said.
"Let's not forget Ms Nosworthy moved into the position during one of the most difficult periods of our recent history," Ms Bligh said.
"She was faced with a task that nobody had ever had to take on before, an unprecedented set of responsibilities.
"Her leadership in dealing with difficult, complex, groundbreaking and let's not forget, often very controversial issues, such as imposing restrictions and changing public attitudes, has provided great service to our state, and she is to be congratulated for her efforts."
Ms Bligh said the QWC had entrenched a new water "culture" in southeast Queensland, cutting the average resident's water use from 300 litres per day three years ago, to just 134 litres per person per day.
A new commissioner will be appointed to the QWC, which will continue its work in a new model.
3:24 PM, May 20, 2009
Hansard:
20 May 2009
Queensland Water Commission
Hon. AM BLIGH (South Brisbane—ALP) (Premier and Minister for the Arts) (9.36 am):
As all residents of South-East Queensland will recall, just three short years ago we found ourselves in the most dire of predicaments as the water supplies in our dams shrivelled to frightening levels of below 20 per cent. Those were circumstances not experienced in generations, but today we find ourselves at the other end of the spectrum. In fact, we find ourselves in a paradox as our dam levels have now surpassed the 60 per cent mark and further increases are anticipated this week with significant rains forecast.
3:59 PM, May 20, 2009
Cont.
Three years ago when we were in the midst of the most serious drought on record, the government established the Queensland Water Commission to guide South-East Queensland through this unprecedented chapter in our history. It was the responsible thing to do and, in the current conditions, with our water grid built, with our strategic plans for future water use in place and with Queenslanders now educated in effective water use to the point where it has become second nature, the functions carried out by the commission remain critical for ensuring water supply security in South-East Queensland and beyond.
However, today the government will introduce a bill that will modify the structure of the commission to reduce the commission from three commissioners to one. The commission will remain as an independent statutory body with its independent reporting requirements under the Water Act preserved. This will mean that the current functions will remain in place and the commissioner will report to the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade. This will allow the Queensland Water Commission to build on the achievements of the past, including finalising the water institution arrangements. The QWC has supported Queensland in our quest to be a world leader in water usage. It plays an important role and there is more work to be done. It will mean some cost savings as my government steers Queensland through the international financial meltdown. I stress that this will be achieved without job losses.
4:02 PM, May 20, 2009
Cont.
The independent review of Queensland government boards, committees and statutory authorities, known as the Webbe and Weller report, was delivered to government earlier this year and stated that where statutory authorities are required consideration should be given to whether board governance is needed.
The decision to move to a single commissioner model is in light of this recommendation.
As announced during the election campaign, the move to cut back on the communications functions of the commission, given it has now achieved its purpose, represents savings of about $15 million over the next four years. The Queensland Water Commission will also be restructured so that its corporate services and communications operations will be provided by the Department of Environment and Resource Management. By consolidating the corporate services and communications functions of the commission into the department, we have identified further savings of up to $7 million
over the same period.
Today I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Queensland Water Commission for its ground-breaking achievements over the past three years and to the chair and the two commissioners, whose contracts expire on 18 June, who set the agenda for water reform in this state and have seen it through.
4:05 PM, May 20, 2009
Cont.
In particular, I thank Elizabeth Nosworthy for her work as the commission’s chair since its inception. Ms Nosworthy has indicated that she no longer wishes to carry on in the position, and I thank her for her efforts over the past three years. Let us not forget that Ms Nosworthy moved into this position during one of the most difficult periods of our recent history. She was faced with a task that nobody had ever had to take on before—an unprecedented set of responsibilities. Her leadership in dealing with difficult, complex, groundbreaking and, let us not forget, often very controversial issues such as imposing restrictions and changing public attitudes has provided a great service to our state, and she is to be congratulated for her efforts. I also thank fellow commissioners Jamie Quinn and David Green for their technical expertise and professionalism.
The Queensland Water Commission has taken us from severe drought to our position as a drought proof state, with a record achievement which has set the pace for the entire nation in responsible water management. Above all else, history will remember the Queensland Water Commission for the work it did to change the very culture of our attitude toward water. In short, it is responsible through its smart, clear and consistent public education and marketing campaigns for entrenching the view that water is a precious resource and for encouraging Queenslanders to treat our water supplies with more care and more respect.
4:07 PM, May 20, 2009
Cont.
Remember, Mr Speaker, as recently as 2006, when we entered the height of drought, the average resident of South-East Queensland was using more than 300 litres of water every day. Through its efforts, the Queensland Water Commission, in partnership with the people of South-East Queensland, has exceeded the Target 140 initiative and today Queenslanders continue to use an average of just 134 litres a day. That responsible attitude to water consumption, as I said, is now entrenched in our culture and is a model for the rest of the country.
Again, I commend the QWC staff and the chair and the commissioners for achieving that and so much more over the past three years. I look forward to seeing the commission’s continual delivery under a new model. The government will appoint a new commissioner to fulfil the ongoing responsibilities of the Queensland Water Commission in coming weeks.
4:08 PM, May 20, 2009
Who could forget those 4 minute shower timers and Nosworthy hiding behind pillars at media conferences.
Memorable ...
4:12 PM, May 20, 2009
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