River Murray Flood

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:53): My question is again to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. Minister, can you explain whether there was a significant data discrepancy about measured river flows across the border? If so, did you resolve this discrepancy before going on leave? Sir, with your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr WHETSTONE: On the morning of 8 December, the South Australian government revealed official daily flow data at the South Australian border was 157 gigalitres for the day, but at a press conference on the same day it was claimed that flows were actually around 180 gigalitres that day. The very next day the minister went on leave for a month.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (14:54): There was a concern at the time about the discrepancy between the flow that was coming through and how that translated into the height of the water. That was a challenge that was particularly acute in some places and in fact was under the anticipated height in others. That was worked through, and it was understood better the way in which the water was behaving so that the flow at the border translating into the height experienced by different communities was resolved over a period of time. In fact, the modelling proved largely to be accurate and able to be relied upon.