MURRAY RIVER

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Water and the River Murray. Will the minister confirm that, despite widespread agreement that water needs to be returned to the River Murray, the government plans to increase the amount of water taken from the river and provided to SA Water customers over the next three years? SA Water's regulatory business proposal submitted to ESCOSA shows the government plans to increase the amount of River Murray water used by almost 10 per cent by 2015-16. This at the same time the government plans to mothball the desalination plant that is meant to reduce our reliance on the Murray.

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:43): Let me put it this way: SA Water will only take from the river what it is entitled to under its licence. As we all know, in making sure that people in urban Adelaide play their part in ensuring that the burden of adjustment on irrigators is lessened, SA Water is looking at providing water from its entitlement back to the commonwealth through the buyback program.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: The member for Chaffey is aware of this. The difficulty with the member for Chaffey is that his electorate is more across things than he is when it comes to understanding what is going on with respect to the Murray-Darling Basin plan. That is why it has been very good to work with the people from the Riverland communities and their representatives who have been right behind the campaign of the government to fight for the Murray.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: They will operate within whatever entitlement they have at any point in time, so it is quite simple.