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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
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MURRAY-DARLING BASIN AUTHORITY

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:05): My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier still claim that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority is an independent body, similar to the Reserve Bank? Today the Murray-Darling Basin Authority issued a statement indicating that the date for the release of the guide to the draft basin plan will be considered after the federal election and cites caretaker period conventions. In the last federal campaign the Reserve Bank did not shy away from raising interest rates.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (15:06): I would just say that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Well, that is what Malcolm Turnbull told us, wasn't it? Do you remember that when he told us about that? I am a bit amazed that I got a question on water from the honourable member today because we just had a tragedy down at the desal plant and then we saw the absolutely bizarre statements made by the honourable member. He was quoted in The Australian yesterday—

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker: this has no relevance whatsoever to the question.

The SPEAKER: It has relevance; it is related to water, and the Premier can answer as he chooses.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker. I raised the point of order of relevance. My question had nothing to do with water: it had to do with the administration of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

The SPEAKER: We'll see how the Premier finishes his answer.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: He was quoted as follows:

State opposition water spokesman, Mitch Williams, said the decision to build the desal plant was driven by 'political expediency'.

He said the sensible and cheaper option was to purify and re-use stormwater. He continues:

The capacity of the plant does nothing additional for our water security.

On building the desal plant, he said:

It was a stupid decision taken by the Rann government purely for political reasons.

That is what he said on 19 July. On 4 July 2007—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —he said the Liberals would build a desalination plant; 'we would provide water, it will cost a little bit more, but you won't have water restrictions.' Then on 12 September, 'we've been pushing it for almost 12 months now, this is a no-brainer.' It was a no-brainer when it was his idea but it was a dumb decision by us. On 5 December 2007, he said:

Well in fact...it was our idea. We announced 12 months ago that South Australia and Adelaide needed to build a desalination plant to provide water—

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker: I now ask you to rule on the relevance of this answer to the question about the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

The SPEAKER: You asked about the Murray-Darling Basin. If it has nothing to do with water—it has nothing to do with forestry or mining, so I don't see why it has nothing to do with water but, Premier, would you get back to your answer?

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I am getting onto it, ma'am. The final quote is from 13 May 2009, Hansard:

The only thing that the government has done wrong about building a desalination plant from the opposition's perspective is that it has not done it earlier.

But yesterday it was a stupid decision. It was a no-brainer three years ago, now it is a stupid decision. What does that say about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition? Let me tell you.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I've worked with a number of Liberal leaders.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure the Premier is now going to get onto the Murray-Darling Basin.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: No, you are. These are your quotes. This deputy leader does not stand by—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: He means not what he says and he says not what he means, and that is the difference. Let's go on to what you are talking about in relation to the management of the River Murray. I worked with a number of federal Liberal leaders like John Howard. I worked with him to get defence projects. I worked with Malcolm Turnbull when he was minister for water over his plan for a federal minister to be responsible for the River Murray with a basin authority underneath it which would give independent advice. Remember that? You supported it. You came out and supported it. But also I worked with Brendan Nelson—again, on defence projects. There is one leader though that I have not seen show an interest in South Australia and that is the current leader of the federal opposition, Tony Abbott, except of course when he dudded us on health funding—and that is the difference, so keep your questions coming.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I saw Peter Costello's performance last night taking off someone's accent. Peter Costello is brave in front of—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order, member for Unley.

Mr PISONI: On a point of order, we are desperately waiting for the answer. This is not relevant to the question whatsoever.

The SPEAKER: I do uphold that point of order now. I am starting to wonder where this question is going. Premier, have you finished your answer?

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Yes, I have.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister for Transport, point of order.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order: it may have escaped the opposition, but it is out of order to yell all those interjections.

The SPEAKER: I call the Member for Morphett. Perhaps we might have some sanity.

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