MURRAY-DARLING BASIN

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:57): I have a supplementary, Madam Speaker. Will the minister explain why his department spent almost $60 million of taxpayers' money on 160 gigalitres of water at a premium of up to 21 per cent above market rate, especially given now that the water is worth much less than $2 million?

The SPEAKER: I will count that as a question.

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:57): Madam Speaker, let me help the member for Chaffey, who is not across as many issues with respect to water as the previous member.

Mr WILLIAMS: Madam Speaker, under what standing order can a minister stand up and, before they start answering a serious question, give gratuitous insults across the chamber to members of the opposition?

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for MacKillop. I did not actually take it as an insult. However, minister, you will answer the question, and be careful in your words.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker, I thank you for noticing that, because I did not deliver it as an insult. Quite simply, a great part of that question was answered in my previous answer. We were in the throes of the most unprecedented drought in anyone's living memory. Decisions were made at that time and we contemplated how we were going to manage the effects of this drought that were having implications—not just implications, Madam Speaker—

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I am getting to the answer.

Mr WILLIAMS: No, you are not.

The SPEAKER: What is your standing order?

Mr WILLIAMS: Standing order 98, Madam Speaker, relevance. The question was: why did the government pay a 21 per cent premium above the market rate for water they purchased?

The SPEAKER: Thank you. You can sit down: you have made your point. I do think the minister is answering this.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I am, Madam Speaker. I am doing my best.

The SPEAKER: I am listening carefully to what he says.

The Hon. P. CAICA: We were in the throes of the most unprecedented drought: I have said that before. But, also, we spent many tens of millions of dollars to purchase water at or around the market price at that stage to keep permanent plantings alive, to ensure that the Riverland itself, like the Lower Lakes, lived to fight another day.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: The point I am making is that, just as we made the correct decision at that time to purchase water for critical human needs, we made the exact correct decision—

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker. I repeat: the question was, 'Why did he pay a 21 per cent premium?'

The SPEAKER: Member for MacKillop sit down. I fail to see why you are saying that he is not answering the question. To me it is relevant to the question. If you have a different interpretation to it, you can come and see me after, but I believe he is answering the question. To me it makes sense. 'They were in the worst part of the drought, etc.'—that is relevant to the answer.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: You will sit down, you will not question. I have not upheld your point of order. Minister, I refer you back to the question. We are running out of time.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I will finish the question. We did what we needed to do. We paid what we had to, to make sure that permanent plantings in the Riverland remained alive—which should suit the member for Chaffey and his constituents—and to do what was necessary to ensure that critical human needs for water was not compromised.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. Point of order.

Mr WHETSTONE: Madam Speaker, the question was about the 21 per cent above-market rate for 160 gigalitres of water, which they have not used.

The SPEAKER: Your question was about confirming payment—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Your second question—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I will look at the questions afterwards, but to me the question was, 'Will you confirm payment of...' in that second question. You can bring the questions to me afterwards and I will have a look. Member for Ashford.