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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-26 Daily Xml
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LAKE EYRE BASIN (INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT) (RATIFICATION OF AMENDMENTS) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 14 February 2008. Page 2130.)

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (11:02): I am the lead speaker for the opposition on this bill in the House of Assembly.

An honourable member interjecting:

Mr GRIFFITHS: Far from it. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak, albeit very briefly, on this bill. Recent contributions on this bill by members in the other place have provided me with an opportunity to learn a lot about this rather unique part of South Australia. Sadly, I admit that I have never had the opportunity to travel to that area. However, the member for Stuart (who I believe will also be making a contribution on this bill) has kindly offered to host a visit to that area in late March by several members of the Liberal opposition. So, I am looking forward to learning a lot about this unique part of our state.

It is a sparsely populated area, largely consisting of pastoral country, which contributes significantly to the South Australian economy by way of tourism and beef production, and which, I am advised, contains South Australia's major reserves of natural gas. I want to take this opportunity to read into Hansard part of the contribution made by the Hon. Ann Bressington in the other place, as follows:

It is an extraordinary and varied ecosystem. The Lake Eyre Basin covers more than 1 million square kilometres of semi-arid to arid land in Central Australia. Its area equates to nearly 20 per cent of the Australian continent. The basin essentially is one of the world's biggest natural internal drainage models and, while its flows are unpredictable, (to say the least)—

and, certainly, we have experienced drought for far too long with respect to that—

it is also acknowledged as one of the few remaining unregulated river systems on the planet.

Therefore, it makes it very important that an opportunity does exist for agreements to be negotiated between the states and the commonwealth to ensure that the Lake Eyre Basin is protected. In reading the contributions on this bill, I noted that South Australia (specifically, under the previous Liberal government) was the driving force behind the development of an inter-governmental agreement covering the Lake Eyre Basin. That agreement was signed off by South Australia, Queensland and the commonwealth in 2001, with the Northern Territory becoming a signatory to it in 2004.

The inclusion of the Northern Territory has created a stimulus for a review to be undertaken of the boundaries covered by the agreement. Our shadow minister (Hon. Michelle Lensink) has provided the party room with information and maps of the area, and it is pleasing to see that the area covered by the agreement has grown enormously. I do make the note, however, that, in seeing that that agreement could be covered for the Lake Eyre Basin, it does raise a direct comparison regarding negotiation and how, for the Murray-Darling Basin, the opportunity was not there to make appropriate use of the $10 billion that was provided by the former prime minister (John Howard) to ensure that the Murray-Darling Basin and all of its woes could be considered and corrective action taken. If we can get agreement on the Lake Eyre Basin, why is it that we cannot get something happening with respect to the Murray-Darling Basin? Its relative importance—

The Hon. J.D. Hill interjecting:

Mr GRIFFITHS: Yes, I know. The minister says that it is a very interesting question.

The Hon. J.D. Hill interjecting:

Mr GRIFFITHS: True; it is.

The Hon. G.M. Gunn interjecting:

Mr GRIFFITHS: Yes. All areas of Australia are equally important, and it is pleasing to see that the agreement has the support of the two states, the Northern Territory and the federal government. Let us hope that, by supporting it, this bill enforces the opportunities to reserve that area and that important part of South Australia. I look forward to the passage of the bill.

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (11:06): I rise to participate in this debate because a large portion of this agreement affects my constituency and also it covers a very large area of South Australia. I have not had anyone make any comments to me about this particular matter, so therefore I do not personally have any difficulties with it. I just want to make sure that the rights of people living in this part of South Australia—both short and long term—are protected and that they will not suffer any disadvantage. As someone who has seen it full on a couple of occasions, I know that Lake Eyre is a unique experience, and I am hoping that it will be full again in the not too distant future. I also recall that an unfortunate proposal was put forward some years ago to world heritage list the Lake Eyre Basin, which was short-sighted, foolish and unnecessary. I did attend a very large gathering of people at Birdsville where this matter was discussed and, thanks to Tim Fischer and John Howard, that proposition never eventuated, even though the then federal member Chris Gallus had slightly different views on the issue.

She had to receive slight counselling on that occasion up there in relation to the line that was to be taken. However, when one looks at the proposed area one can see that the Lake Eyre Basin does come a long way south; and, certainly, it covers a very large percentage of South Australia. I entirely agree that we need to take sensible steps to ensure that unwise decisions in relation to the future of this area are not taken. I well recall going to Birdsville many years ago when Peter Arnold was the minister for water resources. A proposition was put forward at that time by the Diamantina Shire Council to block off the river. The minister had to say to that council that if any attempt was made to do that he would have no hesitation in taking it to the High Court. That shire council went on with all sorts of arguments; however, following a briefing by him and other officers the result was that if that was allowed to take place it would create a precedent to which the state of South Australia could not agree.

That was particularly interesting. Fortunately, that never took place. As someone who often goes to Innamincka and who has had the pleasure of riding the punt down the creek there—I do not know whether the minister has done that?

The Hon. J.D. Hill interjecting:

The Hon. G.M. GUNN: It is a pity he did not because, in his former capacity as the minister for environment, he may have lifted the unreasonable impost which the Department of Environment is imposing on the person who operates that punt. He has to pay a fee to the national parks, but if you go to the hotel you do not pay a fee. I am not advocating paying a fee, but I think it is rather unfair. It is a very enjoyable trip to take down the creek in that particular punt.

The Hon. J.D. Hill interjecting:

The Hon. G.M. GUNN: I have seen it low and I have seen the water very high going across, and I am looking forward to seeing it going across there again. Of course, when I take some of my colleagues north in the next few weeks we will not be going that way. However, in the future, when Lake Eyre fills up, I will be very happy to take some of them up there. I have flown over Lake Eyre at about 1,000 feet. There is the famous story of a person who flew too low and ended up putting a Cessna 210 in Lake Eyre. He lost his artificial horizon.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G.M. GUNN: Well, it's below sea level. The owner of the Cessna was not impressed. I have seen a number of interesting things around Lake Eyre. The area is also noted for Donald Campbell's land speed record attempt. There is much history surrounding the area and there are a lot of good people up there. I hope this legislation is going to help and not hinder them. I support the bill.

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (11:10): I want to very briefly support the bill, my shadow minister, and particularly the member for Stuart. I have enjoyed visiting this area many times, usually with the member for Stuart who has graciously allowed me to share an aeroplane with him. Many of my colleagues have also done that. I am sure if you talk nicely to the member for Stuart you may be afforded the opportunity also, particularly if you are on this side of the house.

It is a marvellous area and I have appreciated my many visits there. I note in relation to this agreement that this is a very sensitive area. I commend the minister, because I understand that the local people who live there have been consulted. Not only do the local people need to be consulted and considered but also their advice needs to be sought. None of us should be preaching to them about green issues or anything else because they live there and they love and protect the land. The land needs to be sustainable from one season to the next, which is very difficult in an area of such fragile marginal country with historic leanings right back to the Afghans, who first farmed these areas.

In relation to the Great Artesian Basin the water issue is particularly complex. Who has existing rights? Does that guarantee them lifelong use? Do they have an allocation forever? These are the issues. The member for Stuart said it beautifully: these people live there. I take my hat off to them, because they are not only good custodians of the land but very hospitable hosts and hostesses. Every time I go there I see that they are continually improving the stations, the lands, the fences and all the facilities. With current prices and the drought you wonder where they get the resources to do so, but they do. They are fantastic survivors up there, and we should do all we can to assist them. I understand this legislation has their full agreement. The minister nods his head. I trust this minister—not all of them, but I trust this one.

There is much history in relation to this place. I was fascinated to see the Marree Man when flying over the area. I believe the Marree Man is now very much faded. Whether anybody is ever going to rejuvenate the Marree Man is a good question. None of us seems to know—not even the member for Stuart—who put the Marree Man there, but I am sure that I have a tractor the right size and Mr Gunn has a disc the right size and we have got a low loader to touch it up. However I do not think it would make a very good headline if the member for Stuart and I were caught in the act of freshening up the Marree Man. It is interesting to make that observation as it certainly has been a tourism drawcard, and I do not believe it has done any damage to the soil.

An honourable member interjecting:

Mr VENNING: There is a lot of history. I certainly appreciate these people and the land, and I support the bill.

Ms BREUER (Giles) (11:14): I rise to support this bill. This is an area with which I am extremely familiar and which I have visited many times. One of my great pleasures in life is to travel from Roxby Downs up the Borefield Road and then along the Oodnadatta Track up to Oodnadatta, or across from William Creek to Coober Pedy, because it is some of the most incredible country in the world. We always stop off at Lake Eyre South, but the main body of Lake Eyre is up near William Creek. I have flown over it on a number of occasions, and I understand the complexity and the importance of this issue.

I find it interesting that I regularly receive emails, letters or visits from people with suggestions that we build a channel from the top of Spencer Gulf right up through Lake Torrens and Lake Eyre, and in that way we will solve all our water problems in South Australia; that by having a body of water it will create more rainfall and solve the drought problems, and so on. Very often these suggestions are made by people who do not understand the very delicate nature of that area. I say, 'Great idea, but the reality is that we have no real understanding of the environmental impact at this stage.' That area at the moment is in severe drought: I do not think that I have ever seen it as dry as it is currently. I was there a few weeks ago, and I know that it has not received any rain since then.

Just to reflect on the delicacy of that region—not so much Lake Eyre, but nearby—I always remember the story of John McDouall Stuart. Shortly after he first went through that area, because of what he had discovered, some quite significant pioneers (whose names I cannot now recall) decided to run cattle there. They took their cattle and went to Hergott Springs (which is now known as Marree) and, within 24 hours, that mass of cattle had absolutely decimated that area. I understand that it recovered to some extent, but it look a long time, and it has never been the same as it was in its original pristine condition. So, it is a very delicate environment, and we need to do all we can to support that area.

I agree with the members for Schubert and Stuart that the locals there understand and know the area and are very passionate about it. I have had many discussions with people in William Creek about that environment. Last week, I saw Randall Crozier from Anna Creek Station, who is very aware of the impact of incidents that can happen in that area.

I also want to touch on the issue of tourism, which has been mentioned, which is a really important industry in that area. However, I am becoming increasingly concerned about some comments I am hearing about the state of the roads. I gather that the William Creek to Coober Pedy road at present is very dusty; there is a lot of bulldust, which has the potential to create problems. So, I will be taking that matter up with the department of transport to see if something can be done about it. On the whole, I think the roads are well maintained and it does a good job but, of course, if it rains or if there is a prolonged dry period those roads very quickly descend into a state of disrepair. I think it is important that the state government make it a priority for those records to be well maintained. Not only are they used by tourists; but they are also lifelines for people. If someone has to travel quickly into Coober Pedy for medical assistance, for example, we have to make sure that the road is capable of taking a vehicle at relatively high speeds.

I also have concerns about tourists who have no understanding of the conditions in that area. I heard someone on the radio the other day (I think from Hawker caravan park) talking about a couple of who intended to ride their pushbikes along the Oodnadatta Track at this time of the year. I think twice about taking an airconditioned four-wheel drive with a fridge in the back and lots of water along that track at this time of the year, because of the incredible heat. It is fine when you are driving, but if you break down you are in serious trouble if you are not well prepared.

I think that we really have to look at that aspect with respect to tourists who visit from overseas. There was an incident the other day when a tourist van broke down and they all decided to walk into William Creek, some 30-odd kilometres away, which is absolute madness. So, I think we need to keep stressing that matter. The member for Stuart and I are probably the two who can make sure that it is constantly pushed that this is not a safe area. I have been to that area many times, and I am very comfortable with travelling there now. However, when I think back to when I first started in this job and I had not been there before, a couple of the trips that I took were absolute madness, because I had no understanding of the area. It is important that we make tourists and other people travelling out there understand the harsh conditions of the area, particularly at this time of the year. This legislation is important. It is a pristine area and we need to protect it as much as we possibly can.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (11:20): I thank all members for speaking in this debate and supporting the legislation. I am glad that the legislation has bipartisan support and is not at all controversial. South Australians are the great beneficiaries of this legislation because, if it were not for this legislation and agreement, we would be subject to administrative decisions in Queensland, in particular, which might affect the water flow into South Australia. As a result of this agreement we are able to manage across the jurisdictions the entire catchment and resource. It is to the great benefit of South Australia that that is the case.

It is important to pay tribute to the other collaborators in this agreement, particularly Queensland. The Northern Territory, as well, came into the agreement recently. It is terrific that it has volunteered to be part of it, too. Over time the extent of the area which is covered has expanded somewhat. That has all been done as a result of good consultation, discussion and science. All the decision making around this agreement was done on a consensual basis involving governments, scientists and the community.

I went to a ministerial council meeting at Birdsville when I was minister for environment and conservation—I think it met once a year—with David Kemp (then the federal minister for the environment) and Peter Cullen, who at that time was chair of the scientific panel. We had a very good discussion with the local community and there was strong support for the measures contained in this agreement; so I do commend it to the house.

This is a fantastic part of our state, and tourism is an interesting issue which does have to be managed well. I recall that when I was a school teacher in 1975 I took a busload of students, with a number of other teachers, to Lake Eyre where we camped. It was absolutely full of water, with small fish swimming around and a massive amount of bird life. It was one of the most stunning things I have ever experienced in my life; it has certainly stayed with me and I hope it has stayed with the children. It was a big effort. It took us about a week to get up there and to come back for an hour or two of looking at the lake. It was a great trip.

I commend the bill to the house. I thank members for supporting it. I also thank the officers, both in the parliament and the department, who were responsible for drafting it.

Bill read a second time and taken through its remaining stages.

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