I think outside the square all the time Meg, thats why I've done
well in life! The thing is, you've totally missed what some politicians and economists have been saying, which makes sense.

A relatively small amount of our total water is used for domestic
needs. A hell of a lot of water is also wasted. Trading water,
rather then blowing billions of $, makes perfect sense to use
it efficiently. Instead of thinking about that, you jump to
conspiracy theories.

The Aussie dairy industry could learn from NZ, where farmers own
Fonterra and are doing well. Fonterra, ie NZ farmers, now own
more and more of milk processing here! Aussie farmers in both
meat and milk, need to get involved in value adding their own
products. NZ farmers are moving over here en masse, to take
advantage of the opportunities here in the dairy industry.

Water in the whole ES has one big problem, no rainfall. After so
many dry years, perhaps its climate change causing it after all.
If it is, then the whole of ES agriculture is in deep doo doo and
will have to reinvent themselves to suit the new climate. We
have had to do that here, with 25% less rainfall then in the past.

Religion is the problem in Uganda Meg. The Bush regime, driven
by fundies and Catholics, gave them 200 million to get rid of condoms
and go back to crossing their legs for Jesus. Ugandan women still
don't have free access to family planning etc, so are forced to have
far more kids then they want.

Getting back to the recycled water side of things.

I am all for recycled water, primarily for agriculture and industry, thus saving drinking water for, well, drinking.

Water conservation, like energy renewal, will be solved by using all available means and not just a one 'magic' solution:

on the home front: water tanks, recycle 'grey' water,

by government: legislation on appropriate water use and environmental studies, upgrade storm water run-off for use rather than washing debris into bays (as an example),

by industry: installing their own water tanks and using recycled water etc.

Maybe the problem with the Toowoomba referendum was that the wrong question was asked;

Should recycled water be used by farmers and industry, instead of using the town's drinking water?

The answer is "yes" but unfortunately that's not the question Scout.

In Queensland, the re-election of the Beattie Government is going to make sure that all of Queensland will drink recycled sewage water. There will be no choice. The Toowoomba Poll was the last bastion of democracy.

The choice of the people of Toowoomba will mean nothing if the Beattie Government is returned to power.

There are better and safer options. September 9 will be the only opportunity for the people of this State to take a stance against this insanity.

I say to the people of Queensland:

If you want recycled sewage in your drinking water then vote Labor.

If you don't want recycled sewage in your drinking water then make an opposing vote

Amber

Part of the problem, as I see it, is that recycling water will be a private, for profit industry, and as such I can't see the Libs being all that averse to the concept, in the long term. I humbly suggest that they are only against its introduction to curry favour in the upcoming election - not that I'm a cynic, but.....

Maybe time to consider independents or (shock horror) the Greens.

Scout,

There is no doubt in my mind that the “mighty dollar” drives this maniacal scheme.

We do not control much of anything, but we do willingly participate by the choices we make. Those choices have everything to do with the outcome. One thing we do control is the choice we make when we cast our vote at the polling booth.

It might be the time to remember that there is no such thing as freedom of choice unless there is freedom to refuse.

Whatever may happen in the future with another government in power is not the concern we have at this moment in time.

Recycled sewage in our drinking water is a foregone conclusion with the Beattie Government - there will be no choice.

On this point, I have to agree with both Scout and Amber4320...Beattie's bent is to have the Smart State drinking *#&%!

Nevermind it's 'commonsensical' to use recycled-waste-water for agriculture and industry...much cheaper too as less treatment is required.

Queensland's Major opposition parties' policies are practically non-existent - the old-tried-and-true-formula for change-of-government is that new governments only get elected when old government is so bad they simply get defeated and get replaced by the best-of-a-bad-bunch...well opposition's not putting up much of a fight in Queensland are they? Last State election had a smattering of industry opponents to the government...this time the media aren't even allowing them a run.

Not a lot of good, investigative journalism in Queensland perhaps...health-system decimated, water-issues crippling city and bush, government disasters one-after-another...and Beattie's approval-rating survives. Why? Because the opposition is pitiful and their policies aren't so different when it comes to the issues crippling the country...National (destruction-of-all-things-Australian) Competition Policy is supported by all-major-parties.

Scout, perhaps Queenslanders should be looking-to-Independents, but how many are standing? Major parties have got election-funding sewn-up with the corporate-sector by providing policies to suit them.

Independents face as many obstacles in-their-path as the governments (major-parties on both sides of politics) can legislate.

The situation is that Australia-wide, we are copping results of party candidates with little ability, other than willingness to bow to the party heirachy...sooner or later they are going to face a television camera and come unstuck if they haven't got a minder to think for them...Dr Flegg provided proof when the Federal Libs sent a media-minder for him, to keep him away from them.

Beattie's Ministers were sheltered from media half-way through the last election and this time have'nt seen the-light-of-day-at-all...likewise opposition-candidates and shadow-ministers.

RE: Greens, they'd stand MOST guilty of choosing candidates-off-the-Centrelink-line...anyone-who'll-stand...their candidate in a Townsville seat has provided NO CREDIT for the Greens.

...election coverage wouldn't encourage anyone to buy a newspaper - it's non-existent...that only helps major parties and allows NO minor-party or Independent-opposition, same applies to short-election-campaigns at minimum-weeks-allowable...designed to polarise the vote around the major parties and away from any 'protest' or alternative vote.