Turner slams ‘barbaric’ council threat to cut water

United Future deputy leader Judy Turner today slammed the Far North District Council’s plan to reintroduce a policy of reducing water flow to properties that are well behind with payments.

“This is a barbaric response and a dangerous one. People need water. It is a basic of life and it is quite appalling to see threats of it being withheld under any circumstances at all,” she said,

“We’re talking about cutting an essential service for non-payment in a low-income area where a lot of people are not working and would struggle to maintain an acceptable living standard as it is,” Mrs Turner, United Future’s health spokeswoman, said.

“We already face health problems based on poverty in this country. This can only make that worse.

“This council and others facing such issues need to look at any number of other options, including legal remedies.

“But you do not hold people’s water back. What next? Bring back debtors’ prisons?”

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