River Murray Flood

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. Did the minister approve or note expenditure of almost $32 million for dredging the Murray Mouth? If so, was this done before or after she became aware of immediate flooding? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point or order, sir. Standing order 97 says such questions should not involve argument. The shadow minister is implying in his question that there is an assumed fact that the minister was aware of before she made a decision.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will give the member an opportunity to rephrase the question.

Mr COWDREY: Would you prefer me to ask 'possible flood events'?

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Colton has the floor.

Mr COWDREY: My question, again, is to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. Did the minister approve or note expenditure of almost $32 million for dredging the Murray Mouth? If so, was this done before or after she consulted any future weather patterns?

Members interjecting:

Mr COWDREY: She has provided these things; you know that. It's a forecast. You don't know what the weather forecast is, Tom?

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member has asked his question. I will leave it to the minister to answer it.

Mr COWDREY: There is an explanation. Can I seek leave, sir?

Leave granted.

Mr COWDREY: On 30 November last year, the minister said that she was delighted that dredging had been suspended. This was merely weeks after taxpayers paid $31.8 million for a four-year dredging contract.

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) (14:57): First of all, it ought to be made clear that the MDBA pays for this. This is something that is done under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and is paid for by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. The approval for—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The opposition asked the question. I suggest you actually listen to the answer.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Flinders, you clearly don't want to be here today.

Mr Telfer: Don't we all?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I can assist you, if you like. Minister.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: The approval for the contract was made in September when it was not at all clear what was likely to happen for the opening of the Murray Mouth. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has made the decision to suspend dredging for a period of time, which, I think, anyone who understands the importance of being able to have a natural flush through the mouth would be pleased about, because what it means is that you get a proper scouring out rather than the mechanical dredging which we have been stuck with for some time.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Exactly; that is what the flood does. It is good news. That was a decision that was made.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, you are warned for the first time.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Unfortunately, it may well be that dredging will have to resume sooner rather than later on the basis of the amount of silt that has come down. So, rather than it being an inadequate flow, meaning that there is a lot of sand that is banked up from the other side, what we have is a lot of material that has flooded down. Therefore, though there has been a very good scouring event, we are very likely to have to return to dredging before long.