Murray-Darling Basin Plan

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:32): I have a supplementary question. Has the South Australian government completed its SA Water contribution of 20 gigalitres by 2019?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:33): As I said in this place previously, the Premier announced in June 2012 that SA Water was committed to offering 20 gigalitres for sale to the commonwealth for environmental purposes. Further water will also be returned under our commitments associated with the Adelaide desal plant (I have outlined those in this place before), as well as from the on-farm irrigation efficiency program coordinated by the South Australian Murray-Darling Natural Resource Management Board.

We are confident that any gap remaining in that offset will be found by a reduction in the water savings target resulting from environmental works that utilise water more efficiently; well costed and well designed; the science is there to show that under the SDL proposal. We will hold up our end of the bargain, because actually it is in our interests as a state to do so. If we do not hold up our end of the bargain, how then do we expect Victoria and New South Wales to commit themselves to the basin plan which we forced on them? It is in our interests—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: You did not.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Oh, come on! They don't even want to give credit where it is due, Mr President. It was the Premier of this state who forced this basin plan into action. It was the Premier of this state—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Please sit down. If you want to waste valuable time during question time, so be it, but the minister is on his feet answering a question from the Hon. Ms Lensink; he shall do so in silence. The honourable minister.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: They do not like being reminded of this history, sir. It was the Premier of this state (Premier Jay Weatherill) who stood up to a Labor government and conservative states, and got the ultimate program for our river's health and safety into the future. We forced the commonwealth to legislate to make sure that 450 gigalitres is in the legislation and funded, by uniting the communities of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Where were the Liberal opposition in this? Gone missing.

The Hon. G.E. Gago: Selling us down the river.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Selling us down the river, as my leader says. They wanted us to buy the clapped out old Mazda model that they plopped on the table. They said, 'Grab it; that's the best deal you're going to get', but that is not what the Premier of this state did. He actually took up the fight with good science and he got a better outcome, and we will be pressing the commonwealth to deliver on that outcome.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Lensink has a supplementary. I ask all members to respect the right of Ms Lensink to ask this question but also to respect the right of the minister to answer it.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: Including the minister next to him.

The PRESIDENT: Including the minister.