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  • 21 hours ago
The South Australian Liberals have scrapped an election commitment to lower water bills, but it was Labor who revealed the opposition wouldn't be proceeding with the policy. It's the second major cost-of-living pledge to be walked back by the Liberals after watering down a promise to abolish stamp duty. But the opposition's blaming Labor's budget management for the backtrack.

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00:02Typically, the Treasurer is announcing government policies.
00:05Today, his focus was on one from the opposition.
00:08And weeks before voting starts, they've abandoned another policy.
00:11That policy, made under former leader Vincent Tarzia,
00:14promised to lower water bills by reversing an average $80 bill increase
00:19imposed by the government to fund infrastructure,
00:21aimed at raising nearly half a billion dollars.
00:24But at a water industry event on Wednesday,
00:26Liberal frontbencher Nicola Centifanti told The Room...
00:30With the new leader, we clearly said that we would take time
00:33to review our policy platform carefully and responsibly.
00:38And in doing so, that is one policy that we will not be continuing.
00:44Publicly, they're telling everyone, and even right now on their website,
00:47that they're reducing water bills.
00:48But I just played you a tape that proves they're not doing that at all.
00:53Pointing to growing state debt as justification for the backtrack,
00:57which was agreed by Shadow Cabinet in recent weeks.
00:59We would love to unwind Labor's tax on South Australians for SO water,
01:04but we can't because they've cooked the books.
01:07It's been a bruising fortnight for the state Liberals.
01:10Last week, they were left flat-footed by a similar attack
01:14from the Treasurer over Costings.
01:15This week, a dire election poll pointed to a Liberal wipeout,
01:20and now their messaging risks being overshadowed
01:23by the leadership turmoil engulfing the Federal Party.
01:26Ashton Hearn will be hoping her state team gets some clearer air
01:29when the election campaign officially kicks off in nine days.
01:33.
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