DESALINATION PLANT

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:50): My question is for the Minister for Water and the River Murray. Does the commonwealth funding agreement to contribute $328 million towards constructing the desalination plant involve a commitment to operate the plant and/or reduce the amount of water taken from the River Murray, and, if so, is it triggered when Adelaide's reservoirs reach a certain level and/or the flow down the river reaches a certain level?

Dr McFetridge: Good 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) (14:51): Well, they over there might think it is a good question, but Madam Speaker, with the respect to the $328 million—and, of course, we know that there was initially a commitment for $100 million for the 50-gigalitre plant that was then increased by 228 to cater for the 50-gigalitre plant. Of course, that was a very, very sensible decision. Of course, there were a lot of discussions going on with the commonwealth about what reducing reliance on the River Murray meant. We have since struck an agreement—

Ms Chapman: Is there a commitment?

The Hon. P. CAICA: I will get there, Vickie; we're not in a court of law now.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Yes, sorry, the member for Bragg—who has plenty to brag about, Madam Speaker. Quite simply, within the agreement with the commonwealth, the agreement caters for us to return some water from an environmental perspective—six gigalitres, supplemented by up to an extra 24 gigalitres per year, on a rolling average, with a maximum of 120 gigalitres over a 10-year period of time. There are no stipulations within that agreement, as asserted by—and I am presuming that's what she is doing: asserting this might be the case; perhaps a hypothetical—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: No agreement, Madam Speaker, about when or will we operate the desalination plant.

Ms Chapman: Is there a commitment?

The Hon. P. CAICA: The answer to that is no, and that is what I just said. I will also say this: I am surprised that they didn't make my very good friend the member for Schubert the shadow water person, because he did say, back in 2007, that:

I would be more than happy for us to build a desalination plant and then not need it. That would be a good result. It would be there for the next time. And it will happen, even if it rains tomorrow.

I am very surprised that, with all of the players over there that won a prize, the member for Schubert didn't win a prize. It is nonsensical for the member for Bragg to assert that written in the agreement is how we will utilise our desalination plant and operate our desalinisation plant.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, Madam Speaker: the member for Bragg is not making assertions; she is asking questions, which the minister is now straying from.

The SPEAKER: It relates to the question; but I think the minister has finished his answer.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: The answer to this question, of course, is no, there are no such arrangements in place, as asked by the member for Bragg.