SCENIC Rim MP Jon Krause says a state government proposal to require farmers to pay for and install expensive metering equipment on pumps in dry rivers and creeks is yet another disgraceful blow for farmers, while Natural Resources minister Anthony Lynham denied farmers would be saddled with the cost during the drought.
Mr Krause said the proposal should be immediately dumped.
"Many of the rivers and creeks to be metered are dry due to drought, yet government papers show that farmers would be forced to install meters at a cost ranging from $8000 to $12,000 for a small point to $90,000 to $100,000 for the largest pumping point," he said.
"This proposal is a huge kick in the guts for farmers enduring the worst drought in living memory.
"Where does the government think the money for this is going to come from? Do they think people just have this type of money sitting around in their back pockets?
Dr Lynham said under no circumstances would farmers incur any extra costs during the drought.
"These proposed reforms stem from a complete failure a complete failure of LNP water metering policy under Campbell Newman," he said.
"We understand the difficulties they are facing and we will not be adding to them."
Mr Krause said the government was out of touch.
"I have had people on the land break down in my office because of this drought - this drought is cruel, the fires add another layer of misery and now this?" he said.
"It might be just a proposal but when people are using every last cent to try and save their farms, even the prospect of this outrageous charge is the last thing they need right now.
"Even talk of another tax, and that's precisely what this would be, is cruel and a disgraceful thing to be 'consulting' about at this point.
"It is a disgraceful act from a disgraceful government that seems to delight in doing things to force people out of farming. The timing of this is simply cruel.
"Many farmers are living day-to-day, feeding animals, carting water, hoping and praying for rain. This is no time for more taxes, more costs, that could push people over the edge."
Dr Lynham said the LNP did nothing for farmers regarding the issue of water meters during their term in office.
"In their term, when Deb Frecklington was assistant treasurer, the federal government gave $240 million to the southern states for water meters," he said.
"The LNP government at that time asked for nothing. They got nothing for our farmers.
"And they call themselves the farmers' friend."
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Mr Krause fired back, saying Labor had been given plenty of time to fix things that needed fixing.
"Labor has been in office for nearly five years now," he said.
"Clearly he's just trying to deflect from the fact his department is out of control, has outflanked him, wants to impose thousands of dollars in costs on farmers, and they have made him look bad.
"If he wants to talk about the past, I'll stand on my record fighting for local farmers.
"In 2013 and 2014, I stood between farmers and the government to prevent any metering costs being imposed in the Christmas Creek and Running Creek catchments.
"In 2015, Labor got back in and less than six months later farmers were paying."
"When Labor runs out of money, they come after yours (and farmers' too)."