The Queensland government has claimed changes to water pricing would save communities hundreds of dollars.
Minister for Energy and Water Utilities, Stephen Robertson said the Council of Mayors had put politics ahead of the interests of their ratepayers by refusing the high-level government briefing.
"They instead continue to perpetuate the blame game which has paralysed them from taking action to address soaring water charges," he said.
"The LNP Candidate for Beaudesert John Brent – who has taken over as Chair of the Council of Mayors – seems more interested in scoring points then serving the rate payers he was elected to represent.
He claimed this was “another example” of a mayor who has abandoned his post and is more interested in advancing his own career.
"Ratepayers need to be better informed now that the government has handed back responsibility for pricing to the councils,” he said.
"They are going to be left in the dark however because their Mayors refuse the opportunity to get the facts."
Mr Robertson said former Brisbane Mayor Campbell Newman – as the former Chair of the Council of Mayors – endorsed the current water pricing model that failed due to council inaction.
"In John Brent's own region of the Scenic Rim under the reformed system ratepayers will save $103.00 dollars a year,” he said.
“It is staggering that he would sell out ratepayers in this way for his own political interests."
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