Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier arranged an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister and COAG, regarding the Murray-Darling Basin, to consider the royal commission report? If so, when is the meeting scheduled for?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:28): This is all a matter for the public record. Of course we have requested that meeting. We have had an acceptance from the Prime Minister, who is setting about trying to organise that meeting now. Every single one of those first ministers who is involved with the Murray-Darling Basin needs to have time to consider the report. I notice that those opposite didn't have time to consider the report and contribute to the debate in this parliament this morning.

I know they were very busy with their by-election activities, working very hard to save seats that they have never lost in the history of their party, but they didn't bring themselves to turn their attention to a very important report. It was, in fact, two reports and that is why we, of course, as we said we would for a long period of time, came straight into this parliament, tabled those reports—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and sought a bipartisan approach to sorting out the problems that we inherited from those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We won't shirk. We won't shirk our responsibilities to this state. We were left a complete mess. It was in 2016 that the then minister for the environment, Ian Hunter, came into this building and made it very clear that people had vacated the playing field. New South Wales had left. Victoria had left. What did they actually say they were going to do about it? That's right: more fake fights and name-calling. There was name-calling in Leigh Street here in South Australia. Now, tell me how much did the arm waving and the name-calling actually deliver for the Murray? Absolutely zero. By contrast, a practical government, getting on, delivering for the people of South Australia—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —have got the other states back to the table because our plan is very simple: we will deliver for the people of our state.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the leader, everyone be seated for one moment. Member for West Torrens, whilst you have been redeemed this morning, I will have no hesitation in removing you if I need to in order to return decorum to this house. I call to order and warn for a second and final time the member for Kaurna and the member for Lee. If I see any props, everyone will be upgraded.