Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Continuing on from my earlier comments, the federally funded Goulburn-Murray Water Connections Project must be reset, making irrigators and the system's viability the key objective. Nothing else will serve the nation's interests. The state can supply the 204 gigalitres that were committed to the federal Tony Burke regime. That 240 gigalitres can be found by the state from the water that was given to Melbourne as part of the stage 1 deal, which cannot be supplied now because the pipeline is closed.

No further federal funding should be committed until this project is reset, as recommended by the mid-term review. The nation cannot afford to destroy over 1,000 primary producers, their families and their communities, because of bad public policy and gross incompetence. This is a national tragedy, a scam that is playing out. I do not think any clear-thinking Australian would or does support it. We need clear action. The way to overcome this horrific problem and shocking state of affairs is simple and plain, and I commend to the ministers of this government to set it right.

Question agreed to.

House adjourned at 16:59

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