Media Release | 17 March 2026
Peter Rundle MLA
Shadow Minister for Water
Shadow Minister for Water Peter Rundle MLA has slammed the Cook Labor Government and Water Minister Don Punch for a staggering backflip on desalination for Esperance, after years of dismissing the idea as unworkable.
Mr Rundle said the same Minister who arrogantly dismissed desalination in Esperance as a “thought bubble” during the election campaign is now being forced to admit it will likely be needed, exposing a complete failure of judgment and long-term planning.
“For years, Labor has rubbished desalination for Esperance, claiming it made no economic or environmental sense,” Mr Rundle said.
“Now, suddenly, the Minister is saying it will probably happen. So, what’s changed, the science, or just the politics?”
Mr Rundle said the reality was that desalination for Esperance had been under consideration for more than two decades, particularly as a long-term solution to water shortages in both Esperance and the Goldfields.
“The difference is the Nationals have been willing to put forward a plan and commit funding, while Labor has spent years dismissing it.”
Mr Rundle said the WA Nationals took a clear and honest policy to the election, committing $100 million towards an Esperance desalination plant to help secure water supply for the region and support the Goldfields.
“We were upfront that this is a long-term solution that requires partnership with the Commonwealth and further detailed work, but at least we were prepared to start the process,” he said.
“In contrast, Labor dismissed the idea outright, and now they are scrambling to catch up.”
Mr Rundle said the Cook Government still had serious questions to answer about its lack of a coherent water strategy for the region.
“The question now stands: Minister Punch talking about desalination for Esperance alone, or for both Esperance and the Goldfields?”
“The Kalgoorlie pipeline upgrade will only deliver around a 10 per cent increase in supply. That is not a solution to the long-term water challenges facing the Goldfields,” he said.
Mr Rundle said The Nationals WA would continue to advocate for practical, long term water solutions to secure the future of regional Western Australia.
“Water security is not something you can treat as a political talking point one minute and a serious policy the next,” he said.
ENDS
