RENMARK IRRIGATION TRUST BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 24 March 2009. Page 1687.)

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (16:21): I will be brief. I have made general remarks in relation to this bill during the debate on the Irrigation Bill. However, on behalf of the opposition, I will make a couple of remarks specifically about the fact that the Renmark Irrigation Trust Bill was adjudged by the other place to be a hybrid bill. That arose out of the fact that the original Renmark Irrigation Trust Act 1893 had strong links to the earlier Chaffey Brothers Irrigation Works Act 1887 and, for that reason, had to be considered as a private act. Of course, following on from the 1893 act was the Renmark Irrigation Trust Act 1936. This bill amends that act.

The House of Assembly, as the originating house, determined that it was a hybrid bill and, as such, a select committee needed to be established. That was done, but it seemed to me unusual that the select committee, which was established within one afternoon and which I think sat only briefly, decided not to advertise—contrary to what would normally be the case with a select committee on a hybrid bill—and then determined that enough consultation had been done. The recommendation of the select committee was that the bill go forward through the House of Assembly.

I am not for one moment denigrating the consultation that was done; however, I would have thought that if you were to establish a select committee some opportunity should be given to the public outside of the consultation process and to allow anyone who may not be consulted to come forward. That is my understanding of the process of having a select committee on a hybrid bill. However, having said that, I indicate Liberal Party support for the Renmark Irrigation Trust Bill for the reasons I outlined in my previous contribution.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (16:24): I thank the Hon. Mr Dawkins for his and the opposition's indication of support for this bill. As he has said, the Renmark Irrigation Trust goes back a long way; it was, of course, the first irrigation district in this country—even though, if you go to Victoria and look at the Chaffeys' house, you will note that they seem to have tried to reinvent history. This was certainly the first irrigation district in the country and, even though it has virtually identical provisions to the previous bill, I think it is important to recognise, through this measure, the historical significance of the Renmark Irrigation Trust. Again, I thank the opposition for its indication of support for this bill.

Bill read a second time and taken through its remaining stages.