MURRAY-DARLING BASIN PLAN

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): My question is again to the Minister for Water and the River Murray. Has the government now shifted its position with regard to its demand for water to be returned to the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin system? Premier Weatherill, who has been saying that South Australia is demanding a plan based on the best available science, told the media on 30 May, and I quote, 'What we have said consistently is that the best available science was 3,500 to 4,000 gigalitres.'

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:15): What we have actually always said is that the quantity of water that needs to be returned to the river needs to deliver outcomes.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for MacKillop, order!

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Unley, order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: In the absence of science that determines and shows the outcome that will be achieved from an environmental perspective, it is clear that more water will deliver a better outcome. But what this state is demanding is evidence based on science that says these will be the environmental outcomes that will be achieved, and South Australia has consistently said that.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, behave!

The Hon. P. CAICA: We have consistently said that. We will not shy away from that, nor will we leave a stone unturned to get the result that this state requires, a result that is going to be to the benefit of all Australians—that is, to return the Murray-Darling Basin system to an appropriate level of sustainable health, to reduce the overallocation that has occurred, and to ensure that there is a sustainable level of take from the system. That, in turn, is going to—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Bragg, order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: That is going to provide security to the member for Chaffey's constituents and South Australians who draw water for consumptive purposes from the system—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. Snelling interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Would the Treasurer please behave and stop talking across the chamber. Minister.

The Hon. P. CAICA: And that is what we are going to achieve. I will reiterate this point, if I can, if they allow me: in our advice and submission that we forwarded to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, consistent with our publicly stated position, we have requested that they (the authority) model higher water recovery scenarios of 3,200, 3,500 and 4,000 gigalitres. So, in doing that, it is entirely consistent with what the Premier has said.