DESALINATION PLANT

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:21): Today, I rise to speak about Adelaide's desalination plant and Labor's many broken promises to reduce Adelaide's reliance on the River Murray. During last sitting week, the water and River Murray minister in another place stated that when there is no water in the River Murray and when reservoirs have been drawn down to such a low level, he would then be prepared to switch on the desal plant. I think it is absolutely outrageous to hear that Labor has sold South Australia this line that the enormously expensive plant would reduce Adelaide's reliance on the Murray. Last week, he told parliament that he would rather draw the river down to a point of no return than turn on the desal plant.

A federal colleague, who is an irrigator, is outraged to hear that this state minister is prepared to sacrifice the environment, the river communities and food production in South Australia because he is not prepared to have trigger points and he is not prepared to put any form of plan on the table to let South Australian taxpayers know exactly what that desal plant is going to represent. Every South Australian has contributed to the cost of that desal plant. It has put a hardship on every South Australian water ratepayer. Water prices have increased by 249 per cent since this government has been in power. I think that is absolutely outrageous.

The river communities in South Australia have given up almost one-third of their water over restricted times to make sure that the people in Adelaide have had water, that they turn on their tap and they have water, and yet the minister is telling us that he is prepared to draw the river down to such a level before he will turn on that desal plant.

Now for some facts about the desal plant. The Liberal policy was to build a 50-gigalitre plant at approximately $450 million to diversify Adelaide's water supply and reduce South Australia's take on the river. Then, that policy was taken by Labor and doubled in capacity. The new cost has blown out to $1.8 billion, plus $400 million for a north-south interconnector. This has had a massive impact, as I said, on water bills and the currently high water and sewerage prices are just out of control.

To date, there has been no reduction on water licences from SA Water, no environmental dividend and—the river—no pressure off irrigator food producers. Labor also gave up $212 million in GST revenue. That net benefit to South Australia is a $6 million net benefit. Just imagine what it must impact on householders with their water bills.

This plant is in commission phase and will be mothballed at great cost to South Australian taxpayers. We have a $2.2 billion lemon at Port Stanvac. Irrigator food producers in river communities have been betrayed because this now exposes the Premier's fight for the River Murray campaign, a vote grabbing exercise—$2 million of taxpayers' money that did not put one drop of water back into the river system.

Initially the commonwealth was under the impression that the desal plant would take less water from the River Murray. Now the spin doctors have told us that it will take the reliance off the Murray, and it really does beggar belief. Now they are going to take not one drop less, and not one more bit of water will be put back into this River Murray or reliance with this desal plant. Every producer in South Australia, every river community member, gave up a large capacity of their income, their water, to ensure that Adelaide had water security.

This minister is prepared to say that he is going to drain the river dry, draw the reservoirs down to such a level before he turns on the desal plant. I say shame on you, minister—no plan, no triggers—he has no idea. That should concern every South Australian.

Time expired.