Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Nicholls for his question. It's all about water in question time today, as it should be because water is our most pressure resource. The Liberals and Nationals know that the key to unlocking the potential of our regions is 'add water'—add water, store it when it falls and use it when it is dry. That is why we are establishing the National Water Grid, a new authority to take a visionary approach to water security right across this nation. It's time to take out of the debate the petty politics, the obfuscation, the delay, the bureaucracy and the parochialism and get on with building water infrastructure. That's what we're doing, as we just heard from the Prime Minister. We're getting on with building the water infrastructure that we need, that we want and, most of all, that we deserve. As I've said before, national leadership is needed, and that's what we're delivering.

Transformational change is required. The National Water Grid will bring together the best science and scientists, the best people and particularly local stakeholder engagement—we want that local input—to provide strategic advice on planning, on project management and on delivery for water infrastructure and water security, like dams. We've already done much in this regard. We just heard the Prime Minister outline a number of projects—not an exhaustive list by any means. There is even more than what the Prime Minister said. We have been busy re-plumbing and helping to further drought proof the regions. That's what is needed.

On 11 April $14.5 million was announced for the Mitiamo water supply protect, which is in the member for Nicholls's electorate as well as the member for Mallee's electorate—and the member for Mallee will give a great inaugural speech in this place very soon during this sitting period. As the members for Nicholls and Mallee would know, that $14.5 million will open up an additional 80,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture and farmland potential—unlocking the potential of those great Victorian regions. It's going to benefit, to boost, about 200 farms south-west of Echuca and north of Bendigo. They know how significant that is. It is an incredible investment by this government. It is going to be a good investment. It is going to unlock the potential of that region. But don't just take my word for it; let's hear what Mitiamo Pipeline Committee Chair Neil Allen said. He said:

It means we will have clean, fresh water, 24 hours a day; we'll no longer have to rely on channel filled dams.

Mr Allen knows full well the benefits to the farmers for stock and domestic purposes. This is fantastic news.

I know that the member for Maranoa, the Minister for Water Resources, wants us to get on with the Emu Swamp Dam near Stanthorpe, in the Granite Belt. That's a significant project. I hope the Queensland government gets on board with that. The irrigators there have put $23.4 million down. We've put $42 million down. We want that project off the ground. (Time expired)

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