The Andrews Labor Government has again been caught out over the troubled Maribyrnong River Flood Review.
Speaking yesterday, Minister for Water Harriet Shing is reported to have told media outlets that “building on floodplains is a key area of concern within this review”.
This statement comes despite the scope of the review specifically excluding ‘broad planning matters.’
It also comes less than a week after Labor’s hand-picked review chair, Nick Wimbush, was stood down following revelations of a conflict of interest relating to a 2015 planning decision.
Minister Shing has since been unable to answer basic questions over her knowledge of Mr Wimbush’s appointment and her office’s involvement in the decision to stand him down.
Shadow Minister for Water, Tim McCurdy, said serious questions continued to surround the Maribyrnong River Flood Review.
“Victorians just want and deserve straight answers. What went wrong, why and how we can avoid it in the future,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Time and again, we have seen the Minister for Water unable to answer simple questions or unaware of the basic facts.
“If the Government can’t get this right, the Parliament will. The Liberals and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s are ready to work constructively to get to the bottom of this important issue.”
