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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-04-30 Daily Xml
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Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. When the Murray-Darling Basin royal commissioner requested an extension of time, did the minister brief the Attorney-General on outstanding questions raised in evidence regarding the Condamine-Balonne water purchase?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:51): When the royal commissioner requested an extension in his time frame, I had many discussions with the Attorney-General and the cabinet about that. We discussed that in detail, but the royal commission was costing South Australia a huge amount of money—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —and we know that is the case.

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Kaurna is on the board and called to order.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: We made a very clear decision that the royal commission—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —had had enough time to provide a thorough analysis of the situation, as both the Premier and the Deputy Premier said. We expected that to include—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —looking into water theft and matters of concern around water theft interstate, which we would have greatly liked to have been analysed by the royal commission. That sadly wasn't the case and was a significant gap in the final report.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Premier and deputy leader, please; I am trying to hear the minister.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: However, I did have a number of conversations with the Attorney-General and my other cabinet colleagues, as mentioned. Those covered a whole range of items, including evidence that had been tendered and including the various areas that were being followed up by the commission. It was at that point that we decided to conclude the commission.

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