House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-15 Daily Xml

Contents

MURRAY-DARLING BASIN PLAN

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:31): My question is to the Minister for Water and the River Murray. Minister, which Labor faction do we believe: the right senator, Don Farrell, who supports federal Labor's Murray-Darling Basin Authority draft plan, or the Premier from the left, who wants to take it to the High Court?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:31): Thank you, Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Madam Speaker, I want to make this absolutely clear: it does not matter who on which side of politics gets in our way in relation to defending the river, we will stand up for South Australia. Can I say, Madam Speaker, to everyone in this place, if the member for Chaffey—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —had the interests of his constituents at heart, he would be joining with me—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker. Again, I am a stickler for standing orders. I cannot hear the Premier, and I am two seats away.

The SPEAKER: Absolutely; I cannot hear him, either.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Norwood, you are warned!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Premier, can you sit down until we have some order in this place.

Mr Pederick interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Hammond, you are warned. You got two warnings yesterday, look out! Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Madam Speaker, we are at a critical stage in the deliberations in relation to the basin plan. We are formulating our response. There is an opportunity to influence the final shape of the plan. Those opposite, to the extent that they give comfort to those upstream interests whose only interest is to make sure they do not put an extra drop of water back into that river, are damaging South Australia's interests. For once, put your state ahead of your party.