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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-19 Daily Xml
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MURRAY RIVER

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Water and the River Murray. Will the minister explain to the chamber why it is important for water and the River Murray to have a voice in cabinet?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:56): What an excellent question, at last. I thank the honourable member for her very important question. As I am sure all members would be aware, since this government assumed office in 2002 South Australia has faced significant challenges with regard to water security and the River Murray, 2002 being the beginning of what became this country's most severe drought, with record low rainfalls and flows into the Murray-Darling Basin. The Murray was already under pressure as a result of decades of overallocation of water by the upstream states. At that stage South Australia was almost entirely reliant on the River Murray as a source of water.

The drought had a devastating ecological, cultural and social impact on our state, in particular the Coorong and Lower Lakes region. The drought saw flows into the lakes dry up. The water level in lakes Alexandrina and Albert fell substantially, causing the existence of native plant and fish species to be threatened. With record low water levels in the lakes and the Goolwa Channel came acid sulphate soils, causing concern that the acid in the soil could leach into the water, acidifying the water body.

The Liberal Party had left our state, its people, its business and its industry at the mercy of the climate, which is changing in ways likely to lead to more frequent and intense dry periods into the future. Faced with these challenges, the Labor government took decisive action to guarantee Adelaide's water security, whilst also ensuring the health of the River Murray, which is the life blood of our state. This action would not have been possible had the portfolio of water and River Murray been relegated to the status of outer ministry as the Liberals have done. By 'outer', I mean not at the cabinet table.

With the intention of securing South Australia's water supply to 2050, the government launched Water for Good. The plan, released in 2009, outlines 94 actions to ensure that our water supplies are secure, safe, diverse, reliable and able to sustain a growing population—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I can't hear the minister.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: —and a growing economy in a changing climate. In order to guarantee South Australia's water security and reduce our state's reliance on the River Murray, particularly in periods of drought, the government committed to building the Adelaide desal plant. The plant provided its first output into the customer supply system in October 2011. Unlike the opposition, unlike the Liberals, we do not build one-way roads and we do not build half a desal plant. The project was completed on time and on budget, with handover of the plant to its operator.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Ridgway, the Hon. Mr Dawkins!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The project was completed on time and on budget—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: —with handover of the plant to its operator, AdelaideAqua Pty Ltd.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway! Minister, just let them settle down.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: It will take some time, sir.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway, just relax; just relax for another 27 minutes.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The project was completed on time and on budget, with handover of the plant to its operator, AdelaideAqua Pty Ltd, on 12 December 2012. As at mid-January this year, the Adelaide desal plant had more than 22 gigalitres of desal drinking water put into the SA water supply network and, over the course of this year, it is expected that the plant will run at between 50 and 60 per cent capacity, delivering 50 to 60 gigalitres of potable water into our system. The Adelaide desal plant is a key component of this government's strategy to guarantee Adelaide's water security.

In addition, this government has fought hard in the development of the Murray-Darling Basin plan to ensure the health of our most important natural asset, the River Murray. The leadership of Premier Jay Weatherill and the former minister for water (Hon. Paul Caica) brought together government, irrigators and river communities. This united approach resulted in significant gains for our state in the final basin plan. The campaign was based on best available science which showed that 3,200 gigalitres were required to ensure the health of the Murray-Darling Basin.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: Four thousand, he wanted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The Hon. Mr Dawkins reminds us of figures, so let me remind them of a figure that they wanted to accept—22. They wanted to put their cards on the table to Victoria and say, 'Please give us 22; we'll take that.' We did not do that. We fought for this state. Premier Jay Weatherill fought for this state and he won. The Liberals would have sold us well and truly down the river. Under the leadership of the Premier, we actually achieved a much greater outcome.

This united approach resulted in significant gains for our state in the final basin plan. The campaign was based on best available science, and those opposite begged us not to push for a better deal. They were cowed by the Eastern States' Liberal Party governments. As a result of our negotiations and our commitment to securing Adelaide's water supply, $1.77 billion in commonwealth funding has been committed to the additional 450 gigalitres of water recovery and to address constraints. Approximately $200 million of this funding will be spent on addressing those constraints.

The additional 450 gigalitres will be recovered in a way which ensures there is no negative socioeconomic impact on communities and will include recovery of water through on-farm water efficiency measures and other measures proposed by the state. The final plan also includes improved salinity targets and minimum water level objectives for the river below Lock 1.

The Weatherill government secured commonwealth government funding commitments of up to $240 million for water recovery, industry regeneration, regional development and environmental works and measures projects in South Australia. Two hundred and forty million dollars of this funding is allocated to the Water Industry Alliance River Murray Improvement Program which is a great example of government and industry working together to benefit our environment, our communities and our industries. The program will support regional development and industry redevelopment projects to recover water for our river.

The construction of the Adelaide desal plant on time and on budget and this government's important victories in the negotiation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan were a priority for this state. These achievements, which mean that for the first time since 1836 South Australia has water security for the future, would simply not have been possible for a second-rate outer ministry. They required the attention and leadership that cabinet delivers to government—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: —and demonstrate the importance of water and the River Murray having a voice in those very important forums. Where will the Hon. Michelle Lensink be? Not at cabinet.

The PRESIDENT: Supplementary question, the Hon. Mr Ridgway.

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