MURRAY-DARLING BASIN

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Water and the River Murray. Given the minister's announcement on 23 March that water trading into South Australia would be suspended, will the minister confirm that he is carrying over 160 gigalitres of water sourced from the basin, originally purchased by the government for almost $60 million and now worth less than $2 million?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:55): Of course, during the most unprecedented drought in anyone's living memory when the ecology of the Lower Lakes was on the brink of collapse, a significant amount of water was purchased to ensure that critical human needs water was provided for. It is safe to say that over the extended period of time since then we have had quantities of water that have been available and used, and will continue to be used.

On the matter of carryover, I worked very closely with our irrigators in the Riverland, and elsewhere, to put in place a carryover system. That carryover system, of course, for this coming season has been compromised as a result of the decision of New South Wales to possibly look at ways by which they could circumvent the decision of trade with Victoria—pump it into South Australia, out of South Australia and into Victoria and, as a consequence of that, potentially, there is an implication that I could not provide 100 per cent carryover for our irrigators.

Given the circumstances that prevailed before with respect to carryover and its implications for my ability to be able to provide 100 per cent allocation to irrigators, I decided I would not compromise that this season. I am sure that the member for Chaffey supports the decision taken by the state government to ensure that his constituents, amongst others, are able to access 100 per cent of their water entitlement for next year.