Fed: Key senator wants water reforms fast-tracked

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2009
Fed: Key senator wants water reforms fast-tracked

Independent senator NICK XENOPHON says thousands of jobs could be saved along the Murray-Darling
Basin .. if the federal government fast-tracks money for water reforms as part of its
economic stimulus.

The government needs the vote of Senator XENOPHON and six other crossbenchers .. to
have parliament approves its 42 billion dollar economic package.

The South Australian senator says the stimulus is needed .. but he wants changes.

He's told ABC radio hundreds of millions of dollars allocated for water buy-backs and
irrigation infrastructure should be brought forward .. to avoid a massive collapse in
employment and economic activity in the bush.

Senator XENOPHON's also backing his crossbench colleagues .. who are pressing the government
to relax the liquid assets test for the unemployed .. currently set at two and a half
thousand dollars.

AAP rl/rt

KEYWORD: STIMULUS XENOPHON (CANBERRA)

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