Question Time

MURRAY RIVER WATER ALLOCATIONS

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:08): My question is to the minister for water. Given that our River Murray irrigators have capped their water entitlements for almost 40 years and are the most efficient irrigators in the nation, can the minister assure those irrigators that their water entitlements will be protected against reductions made across the Murray-Darling basin to counter over-allocation?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (15:09): I thank the deputy leader for his question. Also, I congratulate you on your role, ma'am, which I have not had a chance to do yet.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Ma'am. I also congratulate the deputy leader on his ascent to the lofty position that, at least at this time, he holds.

It was a good question, and I think the point to be made here—and it was a point that was made by the deputy leader—is that we capped our allocations in 1969. In addition to that, on any fair assessment—on anyone's assessment—there is no doubt that we lead the way with respect to the way in which we irrigate in this state. It is a standard, of course, that has not been adopted by those upstream states that, of course, over-allocated beyond what was the capacity of the system as a whole.

In regard to the specific question about what will happen with the sustainable diversion limits, that will be determined by and through the draft plan (which, I understand, will be released around the end of July but which is still to be confirmed), which will take into account what will occur with allocations across the basin.

Certainly, it is my position as minister; and I am certainly hoping that, throughout this term, we might adopt a greater bipartisan approach to the way in which we manage water in this state. That would be good for the state and it would be good for the opposition to adopt such an approach. The point I would make is that I think that, on any fair assessment with respect to the consideration that is going to be made by those within the authority, they will, should and must take into account that which South Australia has done over the years in regard to the capping and the way in which we use our water.

The way in which the system has been managed—or, if you like, mismanaged—over the years would say to me that, if the authority gets it right, that is, to treat the system as a system, South Australia will be a beneficiary of that not only from an environmental perspective but also from an economic perspective and, indeed, a social and cultural perspective.

I thank the deputy leader for his question, and I look forward to a more bipartisan approach on the matter of water than what has occurred during the previous parliaments.