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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-26 Daily Xml
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MURRAY RIVER

Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (12:57): I move:

That this house commends Senator Nick Xenophon for successfully negotiating with the federal government to obtain a $1 billion package which will hasten the purchase of water from upstream and to otherwise benefit those reliant on the River Murray.

I will begin my remarks but I doubt that I will conclude them in the three minutes that we have remaining in this session of parliament today. I will begin by outlining what Senator Xenophon has achieved. Perhaps the following is the best summary that could possibly be given. I quote from a letter from the national Treasurer, the Hon. Mr Wayne Swan, as follows:

Water buybacks for Murray-Darling Basin

The government now proposes to bring forward expenditure totalling $500 million over four financial years from 2008-09. This will assist in expediting the return of water to the environment and deliver long-term benefits to the Murray-Darling Basin. Funding for this will be transferred from years outside the forward estimates. In the government's view, this is the maximum pace of water recovery that can be pursued without causing unnecessary disruption to the water market, and without compromising the amount of water that can be returned to the rivers over time.

The government also agrees to request the Productivity Commission to conduct a study into alternate market-based mechanisms that the Australian government could use to diversify its water purchase program. The government will consult with you in relation to the terms of this request.

Local plans for a future with less water

The government is prepared to commit $200 million from Water for the Future in grants for local municipalities in the Murray-Darling Basin to assist them in planning for a future with less water, and associated local water-saving initiatives.

National stormwater funding

The existing National Urban Water and Desalination Plan will be amended to provide greater incentives for the development of stormwater harvesting projects (such as Managed Aquifer Recharge and Recovery) that use urban stormwater to reduce demand on potable water supplies. The new component of the plan would allocate a guaranteed minimum of $200 million for stormwater harvesting projects providing up to $20 million in commonwealth funding per project, up to 50 per cent of project cost. The existing requirement that projects be a minimum size of $30 million would be reduced to $4 million in recognition of the localised nature of these projects and the opportunities that are available in smaller towns and cities. This could commence this financial year, with a call for projects, and with successful projects being offered contracts to enable construction to commence later in 2009.

Small Block Irrigator Exit Grants Package

The maximum size of farms that are eligible to apply for the Small Block Irrigators Exit Grants Package will be increased to 40 hectares. Furthermore, grants for the removal of irrigation plantings and infrastructure will be increased from $10,000 to up to $20,000.

Finally, I acknowledge your request to be consulted on Australian government policy and investment decisions that may impact on the Riverland irrigation region of South Australia.

Debate adjourned.


[Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00]


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