Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg cited what he said was research detailing the sex change powers of recycled water when questioned on why he did not support plans to use purified recycled water for drinking.
More than 61 per cent of residents in the drought-stricken Queensland city of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, rejected the proposal to drink their own wastewater in a referendum on Saturday.
Recycled effluent
The poll was the first of its kind in Australia and is being used as a touchstone towards community attitudes to recycled effluent, which is already in widespread use overseas and in some parts of Australia.
Mr Springborg said studies had shown high levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen in recycled water, which impacted on animal life and potentially humans.
"There's quite a significant amount of research with regards to hormones and the effect that is having on the feminisation of fish and other animals that actually drink water, and potentially humans as well," Mr Springborg said.
"But regardless of what the research says, people don't have to drink it because there are other options.
"The coalition is simply saying we want to give people fresh pure water options and that has not been given to them."
'Red herring'
Democrat Senator Andrew Barlett slammed the claim, labelling them as "a red herring" and describing them as "alarmist misinformation".
He said Mr Springborg was referring to studies of recycled water that was not fully treated.