Question Time

Water Allocation Plans

The PRESIDENT: Minister.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:20): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. I can say, at this point in time, that I don't think I've been approached—not that I can recall, anyway—about carryover in those three water areas. It is a matter, essentially, for the NRM board to advise me should there be a combined approach in that regard and, if they do approach me, I will consider it.

At the end of the day, these issues are dealt with in terms of the entire water catchment, and the allocation of waters is broken down, essentially, based on the sustainability of the water resource and what level of extraction there currently is, or has historically been, and whether the water resource is under stress, or whether it has been sustained in recent times over the last couple of years. So, all of those things are taken into account when allocations are made. In terms of private carryover for those water users, that would be part of their normal approach to the NRM boards, and I will act on the advice that I receive from my agency in that regard.