MAYORAL NO SHOW AT WATER TALKS

SOUTH East Queensland's Mayors have refused to meet with the State Government to discuss sweeping changes to water pricing which will save their ratepayers 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," says Robertson.

"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.

"It is yet 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.

"They are going to be left in the dark however because their Mayors refuse the opportunity to get the facts."

Robertson says 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.

Mayor Clarke was in Council meetings on the Gold Coast during the proposed meeting.