Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Prime Minister, 80 per cent of Australia has only 80 million megalitres of water; North Queensland has 200. Current irrigation proposals include the Chinese entrepreneurial Ord to Gilbert. Ethanol, sugar, electricity and cattle feed from Mackay Sugar and GHDQ2's upper Burdekin scheme would create $1.5 billion a year and 5,000 jobs in Mackay, Charters Towers and Townsville. It has the powerful support of the excellent member for Dawson and the humble and innocuous member for Kennedy. Will the government initiate this—Australia's first irrigation scheme in 30 years?

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