WATER SECURITY

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:42): Mr Speaker, I am just pulling myself together after that privatisation bit. He is privatising the world, sir—hospitals, schools, prisons.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: My question is to the Premier. Now that the Premier has adopted the 2007 Liberal policy for a Premier's Water Council (a very good policy) but, of course, without the Premier on it, will he be picking up the other recommendations in our excellent policy, in particular the need to fast track desalination plants and pick up the pace on stormwater and waste water projects?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:43): I am delighted to answer that question because we remember what was said before the last election. You were part of the team—and, yes, you were a bit disloyal because you were right behind Rob Kerin and then you were right behind Iain Evans. He puts great store in loyalty; we know all about that. He knows how to take orders.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will take his seat.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: I think you know the point of order. The Premier is just wandering off up the hill on a gallop of his own there, sir.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: We remember what their policy was. If they had got elected at the last election, their policy—their central promise on water—was to work towards developing a policy, I think, by 2009. They didn't have a policy in 2005, so they went to the election with jowl-shaking profundity and said, 'If we are elected, we make this fundamental promise to you: we will develop a water policy'—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: 'We will do so by 2009.' That was the grand vision. 'We haven't got a plan but we will develop one and we promise.' My pledge to this parliament today is this: we will build a desalination plant and we will build one whether or not it rains every day for the next four years as an insurance policy for the future. So, instead of waiting until next year, for some bizarre reason, to develop a policy, we are getting on with it.