Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:39): Supplementary question to the Premier: given the Premier's previous answer, will the Premier rule out reversing the deal his minister agreed with the upstream states, as called for by the royal commissioner Bret Walker SC. With your leave, Mr Speaker, and that of the house I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: The royal commissioner states, on pages 414 and 415 of his report, and I quote:

…no Minister acting reasonably could consider these changes to the criteria to be anything but totally antipathetic to the interests of South Australia, and the South Australian environment. South Australia's agreement to these changes should be immediately reversed.

The SPEAKER: There's a fair bit in that. Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:40): There was, sir, and most of it incorrect because—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier has the call. The member for Giles is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: If there's just some chance I might be able to answer the question, I can explain to those opposite. The Leader of the Opposition said, 'Will you rule out the recommendation of the royal commissioner?' This was not a recommendation of the royal commissioner.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: It's a conclusion.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: And now the guy who wants to be the leader thinks it was a finding. Look, the reality was—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is called to order, as is the Minister for Education.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I know those opposite, busy with those by-elections, had no chance to actually read a report that was so critical to our state, nor the Australian Productivity Commission report. We did. The reality is that there are 111 findings.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We have read it: 111 findings; none of them related to that issue.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: There were dozens of recommendations; none of them related to that issue. Read the report.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner: It's bigger than one page.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Education will cease interjecting. The member for Colton has been patiently waiting and has the call. I will come back to those on my left.