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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-28 Daily Xml
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Parliamentary Committees

NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: ANNUAL REPORT

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.P. Wortley:

That the 32nd report of the committee, annual report 2008-09, be noted.

(Continued from 14 October 2009. Page 3519.)

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (20:22): Given that I have looked at the program for the remainder of tonight, I will speak briefly to the Natural Resources Committee annual report 2008-09 and simply commend those members from both houses and all sides of parliament for their commitment to this committee. The members are: Mr John Rau, the Hon. Graham Gunn, the Hon. Sandra Kanck (until January this year), the Hon. Stephanie Key, the Hon. Lea Stevens, the Hon. David Winderlich and the Hon. Russell Wortley.

I again thank the executive officer, Mr Knut Cudarans, and the research officer, Mr Patrick Dupont, for their efforts in what has been a very active committee—one from which I think many committees of this parliament could take lessons. It has taken its functions very seriously and reported back to the parliament without fear or favour and without leaning towards either of the major parties. It is a committee I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did, and I think many of the achievements have been due to the very impartial and fair chairmanship of Mr John Rau.

Over the 12 months, we met in this place on 23 occasions, and we carried out site visits to the Upper South-East to look into the drainage system. We have an ongoing brief over the Murray-Darling Basin and, in August last year, we undertook a three day site visit to Menindee, Moree, Goondiwindi, St George, Cubbie Station and Bourke.

In September, we hosted a number of delegates from each of those areas back to visit the southern areas of the Murray-Darling Basin as it used to run into the sea and, indeed, no longer does. In March, a site visit was conducted to the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges in our natural resources management board area, and in April a two-day visit to our Riverland in South Australia was undertaken. I think that one of the great praises that our committee has received was from Professor Mike Young when he attended (as he has on numerous occasions) one of our meetings. He said that he believed that our reports on the River Murray and the River Darling were some of the most informed and least biased that he attends anywhere in Australia.

Again, this is simply an annual report which has been tabled and which can be read. I simply wanted to make a contribution from my side of the council to thank everyone who has been involved in what, as I say, is certainly the best standing committee I have served on in my 16 years here, and a committee that, in spite of much speculation when it was set up, I believe has done some valuable work and made a valuable contribution to the parliament and the parliamentary process.

Motion carried.

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