LAKE EYRE BASIN CONFERENCE

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:33): My question is to the Minister for Water and the River Murray.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: He will probably give a longer answer this time.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: You'll have to wait and see, won't you? Will the minister inform the chamber of the importance of the sixth Lake Eyre Basin Conference, recently held in Port Augusta?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:35): I could reflect on those members opposite who just don't bother to listen. They didn't bother to listen either to my notice of motion earlier nor did they bother to listen to that excellent question from the Hon. Carmel Zollo. Being such an excellent question, I will proceed to give it a very worthy answer, in my humble opinion.

I thank the honourable member for that most important question. Last week I had the pleasure of attending and opening the sixth Lake Eyre Basin Conference in Port Augusta. This conference is held as part of the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement, a joint undertaking of the Australian, Queensland, South Australian and Northern Territory governments. The purpose of the agreement is to ensure the sustainability of the Lake Eyre Basin river systems, in particular to avoid or eliminate cross-border impacts. This agreement was signed in 2000 between the federal, Queensland and South Australian governments, and I understand that the Northern Territory became a party to the agreement in 2004.

The conference was exceptionally well attended with people coming to Port Augusta from right around South Australia and the country. I heard estimates of 120 to 140 attendees which is just fantastic. The conference schedule provided much information of great value for the conference participants. Lake Eyre Basin is one of Australia's most impressive natural assets and it is of great interest to those who have to rely on it. The basin itself covers about 1.2 million square kilometres, which I am told is roughly the same area as South Africa (why that is important, I don't know), and is considered to be one of the world's last unregulated wild river systems. To those who live and work in the region, it is an area of beauty and mystery, a place that sustains pastoral and mining industries, and a place that is important to the tourist industry as well. Most importantly, it is a place that is a crucial ecosystem in our central Australian environment.

Its rapid change in periods of high rain from arid desert to flourishing waterholes and great lakes filled with birdlife is one of this continents most amazing natural phenomena. Yet, it is these unpredictable water flows and extreme changes in climate and multiple environmental, economic and government interests that make looking after such a unique landscape a real challenge. From a South Australian perspective, much like the River Murray, most of the water starts in other jurisdictions and ends up in ours. Historically, being situated at the bottom end of the basin has been a frustration for many South Australians in the region. Because of this, the signing of the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement was an historic achievement for all parties involved, particularly South Australia. It has provided us with a framework to ensure the sustainable management of the major cross-border river systems of the Lake Eyre Basin, six policies and 12 high priority strategies to ensure the sustainable management of the basin's resources.

The theme for this year's conference was 'Basin voice: shared understanding and action for a sustainable Lake Eyre Basin future, linking science and management'. This theme explored the need to continue strengthening local decision-making by bringing together all those involved in the Lake Eyre Basin, whether they are residents, traditional owners, pastoralists, park managers, miners, scientists, policymakers or, indeed, entrepreneurs. This government knows that decision-making on natural resources and conservation happens best at a local level, not in some government building in a city hundreds of kilometres away.

This government has a long history of empowering communities to make decisions at that local level. In 2004 this government introduced the Natural Resources Management Act, and almost 10 years later we are seeing this community focused approach to land and water, our air and marine environments, delivering great outcomes right across our state. Just this year we recognised the importance traditional owners have in conservation roles by handing back the Finniss Springs Station to the Arabana people. That coincided with the renaming of Lake Eyre to its traditional name of Kati Thanda and the entering into a number of comanagement agreements between the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and traditional owners of the Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park, the Lake Eyre Conservation Park and the Elliott Price Conservation Park. It is expected that these arrangements will deliver the management of these important places that recognises the expert local knowledge traditional owners possess and also enables the cultural value of these places to be protected and promoted to parks visitors.

The Lake Eyre Basin is everyone's resource and it is only by bringing all who rely on the basin together that we can ensure its viability and sustainability as a natural resource and also ensure that everyone's voice is heard. This was made all the more clear to me by attending this conference and hearing the views of those people who live in and rely on the basin. This is particularly important because at this very moment the Queensland government is exploring plans to amend the Cooper Creek and Georgina and Diamantina Wild Rivers declarations. Now we have heard that Queensland has plans to alter water licensing conditions to attract more irrigators on their side of the border. Anyone who relies on the basin should have very serious concerns about these proposals.

Fortunately both sides of politics in this state recognise what damage this could do on our side of the border. I would particularly like to acknowledge the great work of the member for Stuart in the other place, who has been very vocal about his concern regarding the Queensland government's plans.

As I said earlier, the fact of the matter is that South Australia and Australia collectively cannot afford to allow the mistakes made with the Murray-Darling Basin to be repeated with Lake Eyre. That is why I gave notice today that I would be moving a motion in this place that expresses concern about Queensland's proposals and calls on the Queensland government to formally consult with South Australia, as a cosignatory to the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement.

Mr President, the passion that the Lake Eyre Basin community have for their resource is no different to that held by those in the Murray-Darling Basin, and I can assure you and all members here today that the state government's passion—and Premier Jay Weatherill's passion—is no different. We have fought upstream states before and, if we have to, we will do it again. I would like to congratulate the conference organisers and the community of Port Augusta on running such a fantastic and successful event.