MURRAY RIVER LEVY

In reply to Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (25 June 2008).

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations): I have been provided the following information:

The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation is forecasting a net surplus of $13.4 million for the Save the River Murray Fund as at 30 June 2008. The majority of these funds are committed to South Australia's contribution of $65 million to address over-allocation of water in the Murray-Darling Basin, as part of the 2003 Living Murray Intergovernmental Agreement.

South Australia has a commitment to five interstate investments under the Living Murray Initiative Water Recovery Program, with the majority of the milestone payments totalling $22.8 million due for payment in 2008-09.