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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-05-29 Daily Xml
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South-East Water Allocations

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Will the minister advise the house what alternative science he will be using to reconsider water allocations in the South-East. The minister in an interview on the ABC North and West program on Friday 11 May said, and I quote, 'We will be looking at the alternative science' when considering water allocations to irrigators in the South-East. The minister then went on to say that he had, and I quote, 'a lack of confidence in the science' and that has led to this decision to put water allocation reductions 'on hold' pending an 'alternative science' review.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:51): I thank the part-time shadow environment minister for her question. The Liberal Party has very significant concerns about the water allocation planning process that was undertaken in the South-East. We feel that that process has had a very adverse effect on the economic output of farms and farmers in the South-East region. This government is focused firmly on looking at ways to grow the productive components of our economy, not ways in which we put a handbrake on those components of the economy.

The science that was used in order to develop the water allocation plan reductions—and there are a series of reductions established over the coming years—will have a direct impact on the profitability and productivity of farms in the South-East, including, I might add, the critical Coonawarra district, which is such an important part of our state's export economy. We want to look at ways to grow our exports, not reduce them.

The Premier earlier made the statement that our exports to China had fallen over the last four years—year on year on year. It could very well be because of these anti-business, anti-export, anti-economic development policies of the previous Labor government. We have said very clearly, in consultation with farmers in the South-East, in discussions with the South East Natural Resources Management Board, that we need to take some time to step back from the decision, to find a way forward, where we can have confidence in the scientific approach, and to bring independent scientific advice to the table and bring together a series of experts from government, independent experts, and use science which the community can have confidence in.

When it comes to economic certainty, this government is about delivering that—economic certainty. We know that economic certainty is the best way to back business in our state. Our science—we are taking a big step back—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —we are putting on hold those reductions, and we will move forward with independent science which the community in the South-East, the businesses in the South-East, the people we want to grow our economy, can have confidence in.

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: the question was about alternative science.

The SPEAKER: Alternative science, yes. I think the minister is attempting to answer the question, and the information that he has provided so far is quite germane to that. Before I call the next speaker, I will just find out what is happening. The clock is stopped. Members, I am advised that there has been some kind of fire in the building. I am advised that if we do need to evacuate, we will be advised to do so, but at the moment we do not need to do so. The fire brigade are on their way to inspect the issue.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The deputy leader.

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