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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-20 Daily Xml
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MURRAY-DARLING BASIN PLAN

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:24): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier inform the house about the public response to the request for people to send a message to the federal government that we need a better Murray-Darling Basin plan?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:24): I thank the honourable member for his question. With the tabling of the Murray-Darling Basin plan imminent, we are calling on all supporters of the Fight for the Murray campaign to make their voice heard in Canberra. This call comes after a sustained effort by our state government to push for an improved basin plan on the basis of the best available science, a comprehensive submission that we have made to the authority, and extensive discussions we have held with the river communities. It also follows representations that I have made personally to the Prime Minister and the water minister—and, of course the Minister for Water and the River Murray has also made those representations—environment groups, and a delegation to Canberra by six mayors who represent regional and irrigator communities in South Australia.

What we put was simply this: the river needs more water to be healthy. It is not a very complicated debate. We are calling on them to write to the federal minister and the Prime Minister to tell them that the Murray-Darling Basin performance must deliver six crucial points, which include: returning more than 2,750 gigalitres to the river; recognition—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I do concede that those opposite folded their hands on the first round, held up the white flag—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: Settled for the Mazda.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Settled for the Mazda and not the Rolls Royce.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right, surrender. Can I say, Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —that unlike those opposite, we also stood up for river communities and said that they should be recognised for the historical sacrifices—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —they have made to cap their take from the river, which they did in 1969. We have also asked for investment in our river communities to drive value-adding industries that will guarantee a long-term future for those communities. So we are advocating on behalf of all South Australians, and that is why all South Australians are behind our position.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, absent a few on the other side, a few malcontents. As of this morning, I can advise the house that more then 2,400 people have already sent a message to Canberra, that the Fight for the Murray campaign members have gone past 14,000 and more than 9,400 people are getting involved in the fight for a better plan on the campaign's Facebook page. The public is standing up with river communities, and the government will stand with them. I encourage anyone who cares about the fight for the Murray to go to the fightforthemurray.com.au website and send a message to the federal government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —that we need a better plan, and turn their backs on those who wish to haul up the white flag.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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