Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. On 6 January this year the Premier of South Australia wrote to you, Prime Minister, requesting that the federal government intervene to ensure a fair portion of the floodwaters flowing to Menindee Lakes from northern New South Wales made it to South Australia, and in particular to the Lower Lakes in my electorate. That letter was released publicly. Prime Minister, have you responded to the letter of 6 January and, if so, under what terms?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Mayo for his question. Firstly, on the question of the release of waters from New South Wales to the state of South Australia and the various needs placed on the Murray in that state both urban and rural, the Premier of South Australia and I have discussed this. Secondly, I have also discussed it with the Premier of New South Wales. Could I also say in response to the honourable member’s question that the Minister for Climate Change and Water has actively discussed the needs of South Australia with both premiers.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Where’s the letter?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition interjects about action. What occurred as a consequence of that was the release of 148 gigalitres from the New South Wales system into the South Australian system.

Opposition Member:

An opposition member—What’s happened?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I say to the honourable member who interjects about what action has occurred—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Have you written a letter back?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sturt interjected and said: have I written a letter back? I have told him what action ensued, and the action that ensued was the release of 148 gigalitres from the New South Wales system into South Australia. This is a significant action by New South Wales. It occurred within the framework of the cooperation which now underpins the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the discussions which now occur within it on how we can provide water from the system into South Australia to meet its various needs. So, if the question is about a request for action and the delivery of action, I would draw the honourable member’s attention to the facts of what transpired, the actions of this government within it and the specific responsibilities and action by our Minister for Climate Change and Water.