Lower Darling Water Release

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:58): My question is to the Deputy Premier. Did the minister provide support for the release of 50 gigalitres of water through the Lower Darling? If so, when? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain, sir.

Leave granted.

Mr WHETSTONE: The New South Wales government has announced it will flush 50 gigalitres of black water contaminated with blue-green algae through the Lower Darling into South Australia and appreciates the support provided by the South Australian government.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy) (14:58): I am not only pleased to be asked this question because the topic is interesting and important but also I am fascinated to be asked whether I in fact provided support, because yesterday a press release went out about which I will be seeking legal advice, which said that I did, which stated that I did—no question, no 'Did Susan know about this? Did Susan do this? She did it.' I won't repeat it because it was sailing very close to the wind if not well past the test for defamation. The tone of the press release was—I am sure this doesn't happen to anyone here—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey, you have asked the question; listen to it in silence.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: I'm sure this hasn't happened to anyone here, but imagine the event in which you have split up with someone, you are pretty grieved about it, you have had a few wines and you start texting your mates about how angry you are with them. It was that sort of tone of a press release, purporting to come from two frontbenchers from the other side. It also used the word 'capitulate' twice, which I thought—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Treasurer!

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: I was a bit surprised that people on that side of parliament wanted to remind people of capitulation when it comes to the River Murray. The truth is, and let's take this seriously because although the press release doesn't deserve to be taken seriously, the issue does. The truth is that there has been, as many people will be aware, low flow and poor water quality in the Lower Darling River and the Menindee Lakes for some time, and it has caused in the past mass fish deaths, which we have seen some time ago were extremely distressing, back in around 2018-19.

What has been proposed and was accepted by the Basin Officials Committee—not Susan Close, by the Basin Officials Committee—is a proposal that there would be a trial of allowing a pulse, and because there is a natural pulse of water coming through, they agreed that they would allow this pulse to come through bearing some water that is of very low quality. I have been advised that this is predominantly non-toxic but that it is likely to cause some odour issues.

I am also advised that SA Water, which is the responsible agency for checking on the water quality as it comes through, advised that that will be tested, as it always is, to make sure that if there are any other measures that need to be taken into account by users of water, that it will be, or by the treaters of the water.

Importantly, what was agreed by the Basin Officials Committee was that there would be mediating actions taken, so using other water that is available to add in, in order to dilute and deal with any of the effect of this water coming through. It is not going to reach across the South Australian border until around 8 June, so preparations are in place to make sure that all of the activity that can take place, will take place. Members can be assured that I will be paying very close attention to the way in which this is managed. It is important that we allow Menindee Lakes not to see another mass fish death. It is equally important that we maintain the water quality in South Australia, and I will be focusing my attention on that when I am not consulting lawyers about defamation.