Fed: Opp'n warns of another phantom water purchase

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2009
Fed: Opp'n warns of another phantom water purchase

The federal opposition has warned the government could be buying more "phantom" water
if it purchases the Cubbie Station cotton farm from its water buyback fund.

Cubbie .. in south-western Queensland .. is considered one of the world's biggest private
irrigation farms .. with the capacity to store 538 thousand megalitres of water.

It has an asking price of more than 450 million dollars.

Opposition environment spokesman GREG HUNT has told ABC radio the priority for government
spending in the Murray-Darling Basin should be re-plumbing ... not purchasing phantom
water .. adding that 450 million dollars could fund a lot of water-saving measures.

AAP RTV rl/jmt

KEYWORD: CUBBIE HUNT (CANBERRA)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.