Check for yourself - https://www.pm.gov.au/media/2016-03-07/remarks-roundtable-meeting-islamic-council-victoria

Turnbull on the Saudi-funded Islamic Museum of Australia

Direct quotes from Turnbull

"The museum vividly illustrates that throughout our history, Muslims have been at the forefront of innovation and education.

"And you know, the museum tells the story with which I'm familiar of the great heights of Islam in Spain and indeed in the Ottoman Empire, when the successful, the really successful, artistically brilliant, brilliant in every respect in terms of medicine, in terms of literature, I'm thinking of the Abbasid Caliphate, I’m thinking of the Umayyads in Spain. 

"I was talking earlier at the museum about some of the amazing collaborations, particularly one in Sicily with which I'm very familiar with, are collaborations between Greek mosaicists and Arab mosaicists, combining to produce a building, a cathedral in fact, above Palermo, which is a jewel…  a practical demonstration of that convivencia that was so evident in those days.

ENDS

Hizb ut-Tahrir on the Ottoman Caliphate

To the global terror-supporting organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate or Khalifah is a great tragedy.   The anniversary of the event on 3 March is a major event in the Hizb ut-Tahrir calendar.

HT Australia shared their photo.

March 3 at 7:09pm

When Australia declared war on the Uthmani Khilafah. Which lead to‪#‎3rdMarch1924‬

"War has been declared against Turkey"

 

 

HT AustraliaLike Page

March 3 at 7:02pm

When Australia declared war on the Uthmani Khilafah. Which lead to ‪#‎3rdMarch1924‬

Uthman Badar

20 hrs ·

"Hizb ut-Tahrir Turkey has held a historically significant Khilafah Conference in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Sunday the 6th of March 2016, two days after the anniversary of the abolition of the Khilafah (3rd March 1924)."

 

 

 

 

HT AustraliaLike Page

March 6 at 9:11pm ·

New footage from inside the stadium in Ankara, amazing atmosphere. Shaykh Issam Ameerah from Al-Quds, may Allah facilitate its liberation soon, about to begin his speech.
‪#‎Turkey‬
مقطع جديد من داخل القاعة قبيل كلمة الشيخ عصام عميرة من القدس
والتكبيرات تهز أركان القاعة.

 

See Translation

 

 

Uthman Badar shared HT Australia's video.

March 6 at 8:28pm ·

Short clip from inside the Khilafah Conference happening right now in Turkey. Ankara - where the announcement of its abolition was made.

 

 

March 6 at 8:25pm ·

Footage from inside the stadium venue for the Ankara (Turkey) Khilafah Conference in March 2016.
مشهد حصري وقصير من داخل قاعة المؤتمر في أنقرة قبل قليل.

March 6 at 8:15pm ·

 

1 Kilometer from where the abolition of the Khilafah was announced 92 years ago!

 

 

HT AustraliaLike Page

March 6 at 8:09pm ·

More live pictures from Ankara as the Khilafah conference hall begins to fill. The conference is taking place less than 1 kilometer away from where the Khilafah was abolished 92 years ago.

 

 

Asif Malik Muhammad Hayat

 

Like · Reply · Yesterday at 12:16am

 

Nasratullah Nasrat Haqpal we hope the second khilafah reestablish from where it abolished 92 years ago.

March 6 at 7:19pm ·

A public event held by Hizb ut-Tahrir Tunisia yesterday.

 

 

HT Australia added 3 new photos.Like Page

March 6 at 4:26pm ·

Hizb ut-tahrir in Tunisia yesterday held a large political gathering under the heading "By the rope of Allah not by the rope of the colonialists" which saw a huge attendance from the general population. May Allah bless the work of our brothers and sisters in Tunisia!March 6 at 3:00pm ·

 

In a few hours' time one of the most important recent events held by the Hizb globally will take place in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

This is the city where the first post-Caliphate government of Turkey established its seat.

The work of the Hizb in Turkey has gained strong support over the last few years and is being done a scale which means authorities are unable to stop it as they were in previous decades. Despite the fact that some 500 brothers and sisters of HT rest in...

See More

 

 

HT Australia added 3 new photos.Like Page

March 6 at 7:00am ·

Preparations are underway in Ankara, Turkey; where Hizb ut-Tahrir is due to host a large and important conference later today.

May Allah give them success.

Posted on Mar 7, 2016

Historic Khilafah Conference held in Ankara, Turkey

Hizb ut-Tahrir Turkey has held a historically significant Khilafah Conference in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Sunday the 6th of March 2016, two days after the anniversary of the abolition of the Khilafah (3rd March 1924).

The Conference is significant for its being held less than a kilometer away from the site of the Turkish Assembly which in 1924 officially proclaimed the abolition of the Caliphate. It is also significant for it is signals significant progress on the part of Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Islamic revival generally in the country – after decades of militant secularism, Islam is increasingly the lens through which people view the world and the increasingly popularity of the idea of the Khilafah is one manifestation of this ongoing change.

Turkish authorities and governments going decades back (including that of Erdogan) have attempted to check the work of Hizb ut-Tahrir through mass arrests, intimidation, torture and propaganda campaigns. The size and nature of this Conference highlights that the strength and size of Hizb ut-Tahrir’s work in Turkey is now beyond the point of being able to be stopped through arrests and raids. Its essential argument is now being carried by thousands of dedicated members, and acknowledged by many more in the population.

Below are some videos and pictures from the Conference. We ask Allah (swt) to bless the ummah in Turkey and globally.

—

Video2: Inside the venue – Khilafah Conference Ankara 2016 (Turkey)

———————————————–

 

Reader Mr P writes:

Board of Directors

John Thwaites B.Sc, LLB and GAICD

Chairman

Mr Thwaites was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1999 to 2007. He has held various ministerial positions during his career including being the Minister for Environment, Water and Climate Change. 

He is currently the Professorial Fellow and Chair at Monash Sustainability Institute, the Chair at ClimateWorks Australia, Australian Building Codes Board, The Peter Cullen Trust and Brotherhood of St Laurence. 

He is also a Director at The Australian Green Building Council, member of the Leadership Council at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and a Consultant at Maddocks Solicitors. 

Mr Thwaites was appointed as Chair of Melbourne Water on 1 October, 2015.

ENDS

And look who else pops up! The former AWU official, former Thiess employee, former director of a Thiess company board  and current best friend of the former Prime Minister (and fellow B Wilson club member) J Gillard.

Funny she forgot to mention she worked for the AWU and Thiess, both parties to the DeSal plant financial extravaganza.

Robyn McLeod

B.A, B.Ed, Dip.Ed and GAICD

Director

Robyn McLeod has held the positions of Independent Commissioner for Water Security in South Australia, National Director of Water at KPMG, and Executive Director of Major Projects, Water with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria. 

She was Chief of Staff to the Victorian Energy Resources and Ports Minister, and an Advisor to the Victorian Environment and Education Minister. Ms McLeod has previously worked in Higher Education to industry, Industrial Relations, and Secondary Teaching.

Robyn is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and completed the Senior Executive Fellows Program at The Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Previous Board positions include as an inaugural Director of The Australian Centre for Social Innovation and Chair of this organizations Risk and Audit Committee.  

Ms McLeod was appointed to the Melbourne Water Board on 1 October, 2015. 

ENDS

So what does Melbourne Water say about the decision to start sending more money to the DeSal business?

The Minister acts on the advice of the water authorities - from the Melbourne Water media release dated 6 March 2016:

Melbourne Water Managing Director, Michael Wandmaker, said given the year on year reduction in storage volumes, it was appropriate to access additional water to ensure security of supply.

“The desalination plant supplies rainfall-independent, large-scale drinking water. It is part of Melbourne’s diverse range of actions and initiatives to reduce the pressure on our drinking water supplies, including recycled water projects, local stormwater re-use initiatives and improved water conservation,” said Mr Wandmaker. 

“The 50 billion litre order will help refill Melbourne’s water storages and place us in a better position to rebuild storage volumes, supporting population growth, climate change and year to year weather fluctuations. It also provides a buffer against extreme events like bushfire and severe drought. 

“When talking about something as critical as drinking water for Melbourne and surrounds, we need a system we can count on.” 

The recommendation to order water was based on detailed modelling, analysis and long-term scenario planning.

It considered a range of factors such as the best balance of security of supply, current and forecast storage conditions, water demands, water supply operations, Bureau of Meteorology outlooks and cost to customers. 

The 50 billion litre desalinated water order is expected to increase the average residential household water bill by around $12 in 2016/17. 

A summary document explaining the water industry’s technical analysis that informed the Minister’s water order decision can be found at melbournewater.com.au/desalination

ENDS

Looks like they were ready to roll with the PR - this video was released over the weekend:

 

 

Melbourne Water is strong on PR about the money it's sending to the DeSal plant people, not so much about the money its directors get paid, especially since this 

 

http://www.smh.com.au/national/anger-over-water-board-pay-boosts-20090418-aauz.html

 

But we can see how much help the "professionals" at Melbourne Water need from consultants to do their jobs.  

 

$2M worth.   

 

At least they won't need a consultant expert to advise on their EBA with staff now they've secured Robyn McLeod, the former union rep for their workers who graduated to working for the Melbourne Water outsourcing partner and DeSal plant money-bags Thiess!

 

 

It might provide fascinating insights for the Board's diligent directors to look back through the Melbourne Water archives and its dealings with Thiess (did we mention Robyn McLeod worked there?)

 

IN order to discharge its contractual obligations to Melbourne Water, Thiess engaged Western Australia's most highly regarded water consultancy experts, that well known provider of expertise so secret that no one knows what it actually was  - the Australian Workers' Union - Workplace Reform Association Inc.   And did we mention that Robyn McLeod worked at the AWU for the AWU-WRA Inc's mastermind, Bruce Wilson too? His car was seen at her place a bit, so they must have had a lot to discuss with Bruce and Robyn putting in after hours and all.

 

 

Current directors might even find copies of these initials!

 

No Robyn, we haven't forgotten.

http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2015/12/a-few-things-robyn-mcleod-may-be-able-to-help-the-turc-with.html

http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2013/08/robyn-mcleod-in-the-getting-of-20-years-experience-around-public-policy-in-water-management.html

It might be useful for the directors of Melbourne Water to know that Ms McLeod was also a director of a Thiess company, along with Bruce Wilson:

http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2013/08/robyn-mcleod-and-bruce-wilson-were-directors-of-the-thiess-superannuation-fund.html

And if directors are having trouble finding the original EBA between Thiess and its workers, they can see it here - proudly displaying the appearance by former AWU official Robyn McLeod who'd mysteriously moved to the employer side working for Thiess:

http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2015/06/the-thiessmelbourne-water-awu-enterprise-agreement-robyn-mcleod-bruce-wilson-and-the-workplace-refor.html

Wonder why Ms McLeod's bio doesn't record those halcyon AWU and Thiess days?

From The Australian today featuring Malcolm whose strategy is to love the terror away.  

The premise to this story is apparently the belief that Tony Abbott's Team Australia divided us up.   I'd say Turnbull does that by talking about a separate Muslim community, a discrete tribe that happens to be camped in this country.  I can't see how the leader of Australia asking us all to be a part of one Australia is divisive.

It does none of us any good when Turnbull pretends it's all hunky dory and terror has nothing to do with Islam - see the tally for Islam's Jihadi death-count for the past 30 days at the tail end of this story.  

If Team Australia excludes Islamists then long live Team Australia.

Team Australia benched as Malcolm Turnbull sets new tone

• THE AUSTRALIAN
• MARCH 8, 2016 12:00AM

• Greg Brown

   

Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour, left, welcomes Malcolm Turnbull to the Islamic Museum of Australia in Melbourne. Picture: Mike Keating

Malcolm Turnbull has contrasted his approach to Islam with that of Tony Abbott, extending an olive branch to Muslims by promising to unite rather than divide the community.

The Prime Minister yesterday attended a meeting with the Islamic Council of Victoria, the state’s peak Muslim body, which boycotted a scheduled meeting with Mr Abbott when he was prime minister due to his “Team Australia” rhetoric.

Mr Turnbull promised conciliation and said Muslims were an “integral” part of the community.

He also thanked the council for its efforts in combating extremism. Mr Abbott had said Muslim community leaders were not speaking out enough.

“I want to emphasise to each and every one of you that the Australian Muslim community is respected and valued and we do not consider or talk about or contemplate the Muslim community solely through the prism of security,’’ Mr Turnbull said.

“You are an integral part of an Australian family that is bound together by the shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Turnbull became the first prime minister to visit the Islamic Museum of Australia, in Northcote, Melbourne.

He was welcomed by museum patron and Australia Post chief executive Ahmed Fahour.

“This museum was put together for one purpose only, which is to showcase in a very positive way the positive contribution Muslims have made to Australia,” Mr Fahour said.

ENDS

Here's how it's seen back at Islamist head office.

28 Jamadil Awal 1437 AH

Turnbull is just wrong if he believes we share values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law with Islam.

Islam on freedom of religion

What Does Islam Teach About...

Apostasy Does Islam allow freedom of religion or does it threaten the death penalty for apostasy?  Those who turn their back on Islam are to be executed. This is confirmed by the words and deeds of Muhammad. The only freedom of belief in Islam is the freedom to become Muslim.

There is consensus by all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence (i.e., Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi, and Shafii), as well as classical Shiite jurists, that apostates from Islam must be put to death. The process of declaring a person to be an apostate is known as takfirand the disbeliever is called a murtad.   

In Saudi Arabia, individuals can be and have been sentenced to death and executed for apostasy. [31] Although there is no contemporary consensus on the treatment of apostasy, it is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. [32] The death penalty for apostasy may be ta’zir, as the Hanbali school does not consider apostasy to carry a hadd punishment, while still allowing for the death penalty. [33] Traditionally, apostates are afforded a period of time to turn back to Islam, [34] but the death penalty still applies under this rule (in jurisdictions that provide for it)—an individual who persists in his opinion will be executed, thus, there is ultimately no freedom to publicly adhere to a divergent opinion without being executed. [35]

What Does Islam Teach About...

Slavery Does Islam condone slavery? Does Islamic teaching allow Muslim men to keep women as sex slaves?  Islam neither ignores nor condemns slavery. In fact, a large part of the Sharia is dedicated to the practice. Muslims are encouraged to live in the way of Muhammad, who was a slave owner and trader. He captured slaves in battle; he had sex with his slaves; and he instructed his men to do the same. The Quran actually devotes more verses to making sure that Muslim men know they can keep women as sex slaves (4) than it does to telling them to pray five times a day (zero).

Islam and democracy

Taken from  https://islamqa.info/en/ 

On 6 February 2015 that website published this Islamic ruling:

 98134 - Concept of democracy in Islam Published Date: 2015-02-06 

"What is the ruling on promoting democracy"?

Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajid:

"Democracy is a system that is contrary to Islam (because) legislative authority is given to someone other than Allah, may He be exalted. In these systems legislation has been promulgated allowing abortion, same-sex marriage and usurious interest (riba); the rulings of sharee‘ah have been abolished; and fornication/adultery and the drinking of alcohol are permitted. In fact this system is at war with Islam and its followers.

107166: Ruling on democracy and elections and participating in that system Published Date: 2008-10-09

http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/sound/article_16230.shtml  

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked: 

Is it permissible to vote in elections and nominate people for them? Please note that our country is ruled according to something other than that which Allaah revealed? 

They replied: 

It is not permissible for a Muslim to nominate himself in the hope that he can become part of a system which rules according to something other than that which Allaah has revealed and operates according to something other than the sharee’ah of Islam. It is not permissible for a Muslim to vote for him or for anyone else who will work in that government, unless the one who nominates himself or those who vote for him hope that by getting involved in that they will be able to change the system to one that operates according to the sharee’ah of Islam, and they are using this as a means to overcome the system of government, provided that the one who nominates himself will not accept any position after being elected except one that does not go against Islamic sharee’ah. End quote. 

ENDS

Islam on the rule of law

The rule of law encompasses government accountability, equal access to justice and the political process, efficient judicial and political systems, clear laws, generally stable laws, and the protection of fundamental human rights.

How could anyone seriously suggest that the adoption of Islam's Sharia comes close to achieving those goals?

Here is the tally for Jihadi attacks in the name of Islam for the past 30 days.

 http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks/attacks.aspx?Yr=Last30

Newspoll: Malcolm Turnbull’s satisfaction rating on the slide

• THE AUSTRALIAN
• MARCH 7, 2016 10:00PM

• Phillip Hudson

 

Voter confidence in Malcolm Turnbull’s performance has ­tumbled to a five-month low and ­dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister has reached the highest level since he seized the leadership from Tony Abbott in ­September.

The latest Newspoll, taken exclusively for The Australian, also shows that despite stronger than expected economic growth figures last week and the release of its defence white paper, the ­Coalition has failed to lift its standing, remaining deadlocked with Labor at 50-50 in two-party terms.

Bill Shorten has posted the third consecutive rise in his stocks, lifting satisfaction with his performance to a level not seen since Mr Abbott was prime minister, although Mr Turnbull still remains overwhelmingly the preferred prime minister.

The latest Newspoll of 1815 people taken from Thursday to Sunday shows the massive popularity Mr Turnbull enjoyed late last year has dissipated as the government has fumbled its tax policy and been wracked by continuing internal division.

Read more and see more of the Newspoll results at The Australian.

And a reminder of the arrogance obvious in the first month of Malcolm, we published this on:

SATURDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2015

This is a textbook example of Taqqiya.

We are constantly told that the ADF's Diversity and Inclusion strategies are essential for the ADF to "reflect the composition of the community it serves".

I wonder where this fits in - from http://www.special-ops.org/16616/australian-army-open-positions-for-international-applicants.html

 

 

Looking for a major life challenge? Then this is the best offer you may get as the Australian Army have opened positions for international applicants. They are looking for both soldiers and officers.

The major requirements are to be fit, to speak English and to have military experience (no matter if ex-serving or currently serving foreign military personnel).

There is an exception for candidates coming from a non-English speaking background, but they still need to have a minimum vocational proficiency in English (as defined by Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)). These candidates will go through International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.0 based on the 4 test components of speaking, reading, writing and listening. The IELTS test must be undertaken in the three years immediately prior to lodging a visa application.

There is also a list of positions eligible to apply.

ENDS

I would not have believed it if I had not seen it.

The ADF's leadership constantly tells us we need a diverse ADF "to better reflect the community it serves".

How does recruitment directly from overseas reflect the Australian community at all?

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/mobile/recruitment-centre/can-i-join/citizenship/army/

OVERSEAS APPLICANTS

In one month my squad-mates from the Victoria Police Academy will gather for a 30 year re-union.

A mate sent me this video earlier today.

Dedicated to police everywhere.

Here is the Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamist Uthman "I've got issues" Bahdar arguing his case after the umpire delivered a decision.

Segregation: latest cover to clamp down on Muslims

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal handed down its decision this week in the farcical case of sex discrimination brought against Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia in October 2014. Whilst much can be said about this case, there is little of benefit to be said about it to an increasingly hostile media and political establishment. There is, however, much of benefit to be expounded for our Muslim community. It is for her we emphasise the following considerations.

1. First and foremost, it is imperative to appreciate that the issue here is not about segregation per se at all. Rather, this is yet another manifestation of a pernicious political agenda to subjugate (secularise and liberalise) Islam. Many an aspect of Islam has been attacked in the same vein: the hijab, niqab, halal slaughter, masajid, Islamic centres, charities and schools. In recent times, the calls from political leaders to “reform” Islam have been louder and more explicit than ever before.

2. The reality of insidious government intervention in the Muslim community generally is a palpable reality acutely felt across the community. Under the pretext of countering “terrorism” and “radicalization”, the Muslim community has been violated in a myriad of ways. Her masajid and centres have been spied on, her leaders have been co-opted to work for the government agenda, her youth have been provoked and trampled upon by security forces and made an example of by draconian anti-terror laws, and her ranks have been divided into “moderates” and “radicals” with the former used to attack the latter, among other things.

3. Within the context of this general targeting of the community, there is a more specific and focused targeting of voices of resistance. Voices who have called out government policy for what it is. This is the reason Hizb ut-Tahrir is consistently targeted, namely, because of its consistent principled stances: the exposition and rejection of government intervention; the exposition and rejection of the ‘war on terror’ narrative; clear calls and work for the liberation of the Muslim world from western subjugation and the establishment of Khilafah and Shari’ah. Anyone who adopts such positions, as is the mandate of Islam itself, is systematically targeted.

4. In years gone by, federal and state governments have restricted themselves to dealing with Hizb ut-Tahrir through false propaganda and frivolous calls to ban it at election time for cheap political value. Early in 2015, the previous Abbott Coalition Government went a step further giving serious consideration to this strategy. However, the plan to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir was eventually shelved – if only for the legal and political difficulty of going through with such a ban – in favour of strategy to create obstacles in its path. This is precisely what has followed, pitiful hindrances design to obstruct: refusing visas for overseas visitors, banning speakers from universities and other platforms, pressuring masajid committees to prevent sermons, councils refusing to hire out venues, and ridiculous legal cases about anti-Semitism and sexual discrimination.

5. If political authorities thought such dismal tactics would intimidate or slow the work of Hizb ut-Tahrir, they were woefully mistaken. Despite all these tactics and consistent negative propaganda, it has been business as usual for Hizb ut-Tahrir, by the grace of Allah, the Exalted. Indeed, our last conference in November 2015, was of the most successful and influential yet.

6. It is imperative for the Muslim community in general and those who carry the noble da’wah of Islam in particular to see this struggle for what it is: the local manifestation of the global struggle between Islam and kufr, and to stand all the more firmly for Islam. Be in no two minds about the truth of what Allah (swt) has informed us in His book. The kuffar seek to dominate and subjugate for lowly ends and to deviate us from the path of Allah, and they will not be satisfied of anything less than that their beliefs and ways are actually or effectively adopted.

7. Hizb ut-Tahrir intends to continue leading the way in this respect, seeking the help of Allah first and foremost and then the support of you, the noble Muslims of our blessed community. The pressure to compromise is great but if the noble Prophet (saw) is our model, as he must be, then compromise is not for us an option. Following in his noble footsteps, we must continue to speak the truth, steadfastly and plainly, and to stand against all oppression and injustice. We must not change our ways due to pressure or, worse, turn insular and be silenced.

8. As for issue of gender segregation, it is a fundamental aspect of Islamic social practice established by the Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah by consensus of the ulama. This is not the first time this noble Islamic practice has been the subject of western charges of sexual discrimination. The truth is that just as the west disingenuously universalises its truth claims, it does the same with its (dark) history and experience. “Segregation” conjures up meanings and images of intense negativity in the western psyche: the very real oppression of women and black people over centuries. Islam affirmed the fundamental equivalent humanity and value of both genders from its inception fourteen centuries ago, at a time when the western tradition was blaming women for the “fall of humanity” and debating whether she was even human. There is little more to say here than that the west needs to stop projecting its history and experience on everyone else.

Media Office
Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia
06 March 2016

Victorians already pay $1.8M per day to line the pockets of the CFMEU/AWU/Thiess beneficiaries of the de-sal plant.

Yesterday the Andrews CFMEU government announced that Victorians would each pay an extra $12 per year for the privilege of knowing that in 9 months time, water will be delivered from the white elephant in Wonthaggi.

So sleep soundly Victorians, not only did you pay for the plant, and currently pay $1.8M per day to keep its lights on - now you can pay extra again for it to produce water.

It does look like the production of water is an afterthought to the project's true purpose.   Holiday homes for union officials don't pay for themselves.

Facing drought conditions and critically low water levels across Melbourne, the Andrews Labor Government has acted to secure Victoria’s water supply, announcing a range of measures at Cardinia Reservoir today.

The Labor Government will place an order for 50 gigalitres of desalinated water to be delivered next Summer.

Melbourne’s water storages have been declining steadily for the past two years and have dropped by 152 gigalitres in the past year alone.

Advice provided to the government by Melbourne Water in consultation with the three metropolitan retailers, recommended placing a water order of 50 gigalitres. The advice is based on a detailed analysis that considers current water levels in the storages, the likelihood of low inflows, dry conditions in the short-term, and forecast demand.

The order will increase the amount of water that could be moved through the water grid – which assists water security for Ballarat where storage levels currently sit at 52%, Geelong which is sitting at below 40% and other regional communities.

This critical move will improve water certainty for families from Melbourne, to Geelong and Ballarat. It will mean certainty for businesses, for sporting grounds and local communities.

The cost of the order will add $12 a year to the average metropolitan water bill, however a Melbourne Water proposal being considered by the Essential Services Commission could reduce water bills by more than that amount.

With the ongoing pressures of population growth and climate change, as well as the current dry conditions, the Government will also reactivate the Target 155 water savings campaign.

Target 155 will include:

· A reminder that permanent water use rules remain in place in Melbourne, and cities and towns across the State;

· Detail on water bills about water use and how it compares to the 155 target;

· Promoting the Schools Water Efficiency Program; and

· Working with industry, local government and community groups about using water wisely 

To assist those in Regional Victoria, the Government is considering options to reverse the North-South Pipeline and will have more to say on that proposal later this year.

Outside the water grid, water corporations assist drought affected areas through ensuring access to standpipes and water carting services. The Government is now actively examining options to expand the grid to connect communities such as Wedderburn.

The Government is also soon to release a Water Plan which will help ensure Victoria is best prepared to deal with the challenges posed by changing rainfall patterns, climate change and rapid population growth.

Quotes attributable to the Premier, Daniel Andrews

“We’ve always said the desalination plant is our insurance policy to secure our water supply and boost the amount of water available in the water grid – now it’s in Victoria’s best interests that we call on that insurance.”

“As our population continues to grow and our state faces drought, we need to secure water supplies for Victorian communities – and adding desalinated water will help us meet these challenges.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville

“The Government has responded to the advice of Melbourne’s water corporations and will place an order to help provide Melbourne and our regions water security.”

“We’re taking action so that kids don’t have to play on rock hard ovals, so gardens and sporting ovals are green and will ensure a secure water supply for schools, hospitals and homes from Melbourne to Ballarat.”