Water Licences

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:25): I have a supplementary question on the minister's answer to a very good question from the Leader of the Opposition. Does the minister agree that water licences that he or his delegate issues are tradeable, are leaseable, are managed by water brokers and are an asset, just like land and livestock? Yes or no?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:26): Of course, we have another honourable member who likes to oversimplify matters. He comes in here asking for yes or no.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: You are a very simple minister.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Well, he is a very simple gentleman, I suppose, the Hon. Mr Ridgway. We try to make it as easy for you as possible. Of course, water licences may be tradeable in some instances, but not in all instances. There are cases where licences may be traded within a licensed area but not outside of that area. That is a very important fact that the honourable member failed to mention in his introductory remarks. It is not as simple as the honourable member likes to make out. Again, I point out that I am not responsible for the policy initiated and instituted by the banks of this country.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: It's government policy.

The PRESIDENT: Order!