RIVER MURRAY MEDAL

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister inform the chamber about the recent recipient of the River Murray Medal?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for his very important question. The River Murray Medal has been traditionally awarded by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to water professionals who have given more than a decade of dedicated service to the river.

I am pleased to advise that the medal was recently awarded to a proud South Australian and fourth generation fisherman from Clayton, Mr Henry Jones. Interestingly, Henry is the first community member to have been awarded the medal since its inception in 1853! I will take that on advisement; I suspect that is not quite the correct date. I might have to come in with another personal explanation tomorrow.

Whilst I said earlier that the medal had traditionally been provided to water professionals, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority decided to change this tradition to award the medal to Mr Jones. This was not only because he was well deserving of such an honour but also they wanted to note and acknowledge his expert local knowledge earned from a lifetime on the river and his personal dedication as a member of the Living Murray Reference Group and the Basin Community Committee, where he generously shared that knowledge of his with whoever he met.

As a result, the criteria for the medal now reads 'individuals who demonstrate outstanding service to the River Murray'. This change, I believe, more adequately reflects the range of South Australians who dedicate their lives to the river, and it will be a fitting tribute for the many unsung heroes of our Riverland communities and the many heroes yet to come.

This chamber should note that Mr Jones's service, as required for the medal, has been nothing less than outstanding. As a commercial fisherman for most of his life, and a boy who grew up on the banks of the river, Mr Jones has a lifetime of knowledge. He has been a volunteer, community representative and long-time activist for the river upon which he lived.

He took up the fight when he first saw the Murray Mouth close in 1981, I am told, and he was still fighting 30 years later when he helped this state and the Weatherill government take up the issue of downstream health of the river to the commonwealth. I am told that, at the launch of the Premier's Fight for the Murray campaign, Mr Jones gave an impassioned speech, where he likened salt in the river to cancer, eating its way upstream, killing everything as it goes.

Indeed, when federal minister, the Hon. Tony Burke, met with Henry just the other week, he conceded that 'without Henry Jones there wouldn't have been a plan'. Those are some pretty profound words from a federal minister, and that acknowledgement and the medal are a fitting tribute to the efforts of Mr Jones. However, I know—and I am sure his friends and family know—that the real tribute that Henry wants is a healthy River Murray and that is why this government, under the leadership of Jay Weatherill, will continue to fight for the Murray. On behalf of the state government of South Australia, I would like to congratulate Mr Jones on his award, and I commend his efforts to the chamber.