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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-06-19 Daily Xml
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Murray-Darling Basin Plan

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:46): A supplementary: prior to supporting the off-farm efficiency measures from New South Wales and Victoria, did the minister read the EY report that included modelling that required on-farm efficiencies?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:46): I thank the deputy leader for her question. I absolutely have read the Ernst and Young report. The Ernst and Young report takes a measured look at how the 450 gigalitres of additional environmental flow can be delivered to the river. That 450 gigalitres to be delivered in full must include on-farm measures, the deputy leader is absolutely right, but what was being discussed and agreed to at the ministerial council—and if she had read into the communiqué she would be aware of this—was the first 62 gigalitres—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

The Hon. S.S. Marshall: She was reading between the lines.

The SPEAKER: The Premier is called to order.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Reading between the lines. Well, I can tell you, Mr Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is warned, the Premier is warned. Members on my right will remain quiet while the minister speaks.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —when you read between the lines, all you see is blank space; you don't actually see content.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Do not provoke the government minister.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: This is content we are about. Out of the 450 gigalitres of additional environmental flow, the Ernst and Young report said that by mid-2019 we need to deliver the first 62 gigalitres of water through the projects that you could essentially say were low-hanging fruit. To get those projects onto the table at the ministerial council, we agreed to a range of urban water measures and off-farm measures. The deputy leader may scream from her position as the part-time shadow environment and water minister, but really—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Minister, could you please withdraw the comment that the deputy leader is a part-time shadow minister.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: She has two major portfolios; is that not factual, Mr Speaker?

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to withdraw that comment, please.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: I will withdraw that comment, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, minister. Continue.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: In conclusion, the importance of that ministerial council was the sustainment of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, trashed by the previous government for political purposes, and the delivery of that first 62 gigalitres of the 450 gigalitres of environmental flows. That's where those projects can be delivered in the short term.

The SPEAKER: After the 11th opposition question, I call the member for Finniss.

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