Latest News
• Add My News • Search Old News
Auditor-General to hold Snowy inquiryThe Victorian Auditor-General will conduct a formal inquiry into the handling of the State Government’s commitment to restore the Snowy River. By Kevin Balshaw - 5th October 2009 - Back to News The Victorian Auditor-General will conduct a formal inquiry into the handling of the State Government’s commitment to restore the Snowy River.
The Auditor-General’s decision follows a request by the Member for Eastern Victoria, Philip Davis, and comes 10 years after Labor took office on an undertaking to restore the Snowy in return for the support of then newly elected Gippsland East MLA Craig Ingram.
The Snowy River Alliance also wrote in support of Mr Davis’s request.
Auditor-General Des Pearson said in a letter to Mr Davis an audit of the Government’s performance on commitments to restore environmental flows to the Snowy River would be considered as part of a broader Health of Victoria’s natural water systems (lakes, rivers, wetlands) performance audit.
Mr Pearson said the audit of the state’s water systems was included in his office’s 2009–10 annual plan.
Mr Davis said he had sought the audit in the light of growing frustration and disappointment in the East Gippsland community at the Government’s failure to honour commitments made at the time of the 1999 election, subsequent intergovernmental agreements between Victoria and New South Wales and with the Commonwealth, and the corporatisation of Snowy Hydro in 2002.
Plans for the progressive restoration of the Snowy were also backed with funding commitments of $425 million.
"Labor’s pledges — on the public record, in intergovernmental agreements, enshrined in legislation, and subject to budget allocations — provided for a 15% environmental flow in the Snowy by this year, 21% by 2012 and 28% beyond 2012," Mr Davis said.
"The actual environmental flow of only around 4% last year and projected for 2009–10 falls unacceptably short of what was promised.
"The promise has been broken and, as I pointed out to the Auditor-General, I am unaware of any progressive accounting having been undertaken in relation to Victoria’s funding commitment.
"I welcome the Auditor-General’s indication there will be an audit because I firmly believe it is warranted to establish a basis of fact around the Government’s failure to restore the environmental health of the river."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: kevin.balshaw@parliament.vic.gov.au
Related Articles- Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 summer fires across Victoria, make a submission by 15 March 2026
Parliamentary Inquiry launched to scrutinise Victoria’s 2026 bushfire preparedness, planning, and emergency response across regional communities. - Parliamentary Inquiry visits South Gippsland to examine oil, gas decommissioning and regional transition opportunities
State Parliament’s Environment and Planning Committee visited South Gippsland to examine oil and gas decommissioning, and local government perspectives, highlighting infrastructure needs and renewable transition opportunities. - Victorian Auditor-General warns Gippsland faces energy insecurity amid Labor’s mismanaged renewable energy transition
Victorian Auditor-General warns Gippsland faces energy insecurity as Labor mismanages the renewable energy transition, delaying projects, electricity reliability, raising prices, causing gas shortages, and threatening jobs and households. - Victorian Health Department sets Gippsland priorities, access, workforce, safety, shared services, and mental health expansion
The Victorian Department of Health has set four Gippsland health priorities: access, workforce, safety, and shared services, while highlighting mental health needs and significant workforce investment at Warragul's regional health leaders' forum. - Victorian government confirms Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will remain at Phillip Island with ongoing event support
Bass Coast Council welcomes Victorian Government confirming Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will stay at Phillip Island, rejecting Albert Park move, ensuring ongoing funding, supporting tourism, jobs, and regional community benefits beyond 2026. - Victorian Agency for Health Information data shows ambulance services declining due to Labor's under‑resourcing, mismanagement and denial
The latest data shows Victoria’s ambulance service declining, with fewer than 64% of Code 1 responses within 15 minutes, highlighting regional delays, under‑resourcing, and mismanagement under the Allan Labor government. - Tim Bull warns Victorian government policies leave record fuel loads, risking another mega-fire
Tim Bull warns Victorian government’s reduced fuel reduction policies and record bushfire fuel loads are creating conditions for another mega-fire, urging urgent action to protect communities and support firefighters’ efforts. - Bass Coast celebrates Victorian Seniors Festival this October with events, workshops, performances and community connection
The Victorian Seniors Festival returns to Bass Coast this October with the theme Connect, Create, Celebrate, offering workshops, performances, games, tours, and free transport for Seniors Card holders. - Darren Chester accuses Victorian Labor of endangering Gippslanders by delaying Mallacoota-Genoa road upgrades
Federal Member Darren Chester warns Victorian Labor’s inaction on Mallacoota-Genoa Road, despite $10 million funding, endangers Gippslanders, leaving critical safety upgrades delayed and road conditions increasingly unsafe. - Melina Bath celebrates Victorian farmers’ dedication and contributions during National Agriculture Week 2025
The Nationals’ Melina Bath highlights Victorian farmers’ hard work, resilience, and vital contributions during National Agriculture Week, urging support for primary producers and celebrating their role in communities and the economy. - Bass Coast Shire Council urges Victorian government, LSV to ensure lifeguard patrols continue safely, without cuts
Bass Coast Shire Council urges Victorian government and LSV to guarantee lifeguard patrols, warning proposed funding hike strains budgets while beaches remain high-risk, with recent drownings highlighting urgent safety needs. - Southern Rural Water supports South West Victorian farmers through groundwater access and the 'Farmer Helping Farmer' initiative
A section of the Main Northern Channel near Brewers Hill Road, Maffra, damaged by wombats, has been repaired. Water will return to full capacity, and normal delivery will resume tomorrow. - Tim Bull encourages Gippsland East communities to apply for Victorian government’s Tiny Towns Fund Grants until 4 February 2026
Tim Bull urges Gippsland East communities to apply for the Tiny Towns Fund, offering $5,000-$50,000 grants to support tourism, liveability, and local projects for towns under 5,000 residents. - Darren Chester urges more fuel reduction to protect Victorian communities from bushfires
Darren Chester urged increased fuel reduction on Victorian public land, warning unmanaged forests worsen bushfires, and criticised the native timber industry shutdown while praising volunteers and community resilience.
|
|
