NSW: Iemma threatens to pull out of Murray water plan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2007
NSW: Iemma threatens to pull out of Murray water plan

SYDNEY, Aug 8 AAP - NSW Premier Morris Iemma is threatening to pull out of the $10
billion plan for the Murray-Darling river system, saying the commonwealth has backtracked
on the agreement.

Mr Iemma has written to Prime Minister John Howard expressing his disappointment that
it appears compensation will only be paid to the states if they have all agreed to the
plan.

"It appears to me that they have changed the goalposts in two key areas - compensation
and no cost to the NSW taxpayer," Mr Iemma told ABC Radio today.

"If NSW doesn't get the assurance on these two points then the agreement with the commonwealth
is at an end."

The NSW government was the first state government to agree to the commonwealth's plan.

AAP nr/wjf/cp/jlw

KEYWORD: WATER NSW

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