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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-09-22 Daily Xml
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Murray-Darling Basin Plan

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:07): I seek leave to make a brief statement before asking a question of the Minister for Water and the River Murray on the subject of the federal leadership change.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The honourable member has the call.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Thank you, sir, and I am very glad they all woke up. Like other honourable members, I watched with interest as the federal Liberal Party leadership change took place last week. In particular, I am concerned about the decision of our new Prime Minister to reallocate responsibility for the water portfolio from the environment to agriculture as a part of his Coalition agreement with the Nationals.

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: Great move.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Relax, I'm not asking you.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Brokenshire, please respect the member's right to ask a question in silence.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: My question to the minister is: what impact is the change in portfolio responsibilities at the federal level likely to have on South Australia as a state which has fought hard for the health of the River Murray?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for his most insightful question, as always concerned about South Australia and our ongoing attempts to make sure that the federal government delivers the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement on time. I am also aware of some community scepticism at the removal of the water portfolio to the agriculture portfolio, and I am even more doubly concerned now when I hear the Hon. Mr Brokenshire say it is a good idea. That should give pause for anybody. Anything the Hon. Mr Brokenshire thinks is a good idea would make us all question our position, I should think.

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The South Australian government initially greeted the Prime Minister's decision to realign responsibility for water resources with the agriculture portfolio with a degree of polite concern.

In South Australia, we are all aware that we need to maintain a healthy River Murray in order to ensure that irrigators and communities have the water they need in order to survive and prosper. This means that environmental considerations are an essential part of water management at a federal level. However, we have been heartened by recent assurances that the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will be delivered in full as promised.

I am also particularly heartened by the appointment of Senator Anne Ruston as Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Senator Ruston knows well the particular challenges facing South Australia and I am sure will carry her substantial knowledge of the South Australian context into her role as Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. I wrote to both minister Joyce and assistant minister Ruston today congratulating them on their new responsibilities. I highlighted South Australia's keen interest in continuing to work constructively with the commonwealth on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Through the Fight for the Murray campaign, South Australians took enormous interest and pride in the development of the basin plan as it eventuated. Industry, irrigators, environmentalists and the community came together to achieve a final plan outcome which would ensure a healthy river system and provide for viable and productive industries and river communities into the future. As a result, we achieved a joint commitment from the basin jurisdictions to secure the future sustainability of the River Murray, and the communities that rely on it, through the return of 3,200 gigalitres to the basin.

I was also quite clear that South Australians want to see the basin plan implemented on time and in full, as promised. I requested an early indication of minister Joyce's personal commitment to the full and timely implementation of the basin plan and, in particular, the specific programs related to supply, constraints and efficiency measures. I was very pleased to hear Senator Ruston on radio recently confirming that one of her main priorities up-front is to get really good implementation of the basin plan. I am sure senators Joyce and Ruston, like their predecessors, will be clear in their commitment to delivering the full return of water promised to South Australia under the basin plan.

We have enjoyed, in South Australia, collaborative and constructive relationships with former parliamentary secretaries Birmingham and Baldwin, and I look forward to continuing this important work with the new minister and assistant minister to ensure the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is delivered in full.

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