The Deputy Prime Minister has used a visit to Bundaberg to slam Queensland Labor over a lack of action on Paradise Dam.
In September last year, the State Government and dam operator Sunwater announced the storage near Bundaberg would be reduced to 42 per cent capacity and its wall height lowered for safety and stability reasons.
It has since been lowered by almost 6 metres as a temporary measure to limit risk ahead of the wet season.
Deputy PM and Nationals leader Michael McCormack said Labor had made no commitments on the future direction of the dam.
"It needs to be fixed. They were the ones that put that dam in place and there are big issues with it and big issues require lots of money," Mr McCormack said.
"I'm happy to work with [LNP leader] Deb Frecklington; she has said that she has a plan to be able to look at it and be able to fix the dam.
"I haven't heard too much, if anything from state Labor."
Mr McCormack later agreed to work with either major party to restore the dam to its original capacity of 300,000 megalitres but stopped short of committing any money.
"When you've got an area that's producing most of the nation's macadamias, avocados and lychees and so much other product, we need to make sure Paradise Dam is what it ought to be," he said.
"We've got a state election coming up, of course, on October 31 so let's see state Labor commit to what they are going to do.
"Ultimately the dam needs to be fixed. I'm happy to work with the state to ensure that the dam does get fixed."
Labor seeks federal promise in writing
Retiring Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham has previously said public safety remained the priority.
"Just six months ago, an LNP senator said there was no federal commitment to contribute to repairing Paradise Dam," Dr Lynham said.
"This is a complete about-face from the federal LNP, but a welcome one.
"A re-elected Labor Government would as a priority seek this promise to contribute to fixing the dam from the Commonwealth in writing."
Infrastructure advisory body Building Queensland has been investigating the future options for the dam, including returning it to its original capacity, and is due to release its final report to government early next year.
Bundaberg region farmers launched a class action earlier this year against the State Government over its handling of the dam.
More than 3,000 claimants accused the Government of negligent management and deceptive and misleading conduct, claiming officials were aware of potential issues at the dam as early as 2005.
Earlier this month Sunwater revealed it had been refused insurance coverage for parts of Paradise Dam, including property damage to the wall and directors and officers liability.
The dam operator said it would continue to talk with insurers to secure policy coverage.
