Holding supports Premier over pipe protest
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Angry protesters converged on the steps of State Parliament 030608 (ABC Online: Nick Parkin)
The Water Minister, Tim Holding, has defended the Premier, John Brumby, for calling opponents of the north-south water pipeline liars.
The Government is upgrading irrigation channels in the Goulburn Valley and one third of the water saved will be piped to Melbourne.
Yesterday, 1000 northern Victorians protested outside State Parliament, accusing the Government of stealing water from the bush.
Mr Brumby accused them of telling lies and making bizarre and untrue claims.
Mr Holding says the Premier's comments were not directed at all country Victorians, but to few people making misleading remarks.
"It's directed to people who are saying things about this project which are not true and who need to be called to account," he said.
"This is a Premier who has a distinguished record of supporting regional Victoria."
"Nobody could doubt John Brumby's credentials in wanting to do something to improve regional Victoria."
Mike Dalmau, activist and former Liberal Party candidate, says there are independent authorities which back up their claims.
"Is the Auditor-General lying, are the hundreds of CSIRO scientists involved in the sustainable project lying?"
"Does the current rainfall results for Eildon lie, the current rainfall results for Eildon over the autumn just finished, a 40 per cent below average, do they all lie."
But Mr Holding disputes the claims.
"The CSIRO research does not say that the losses are not occurring," he said.
"The CSIRO research goes to the question of climate change and water availability in the future, and that actually makes the case for this upgrade even more compelling."
