Eyre Peninsula Desalination Plant

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:01): My question is to the Premier. Is the Premier ignoring the voice of the Barngarla people? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TELFER: The government announced this week that it has approved a plan to build a $330 million desalination plant at Billy Lights Point. The Barngarla people, the traditional owners, have expressed an ongoing and unwavering opposition to this location.

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Housing Infrastructure, Minister for Planning) (15:02): The government's policy is clear. We are building a desalination plant at Billy Lights Point because there are urgent water security issues on Eyre Peninsula. There are a number of processes that you have to go through to undertake such a construction, and one of them is planning, which we have just gone through. There is a separate process under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, and we are seeking a section 21 and a section 23 determination in order to do that. As part of that process, there is an ongoing consultation with the Barngarla people.