Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water. How is the Albanese Labor government protecting the Murray-Darling River system, and how has the parliament responded to those efforts?

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks so much to the member for Makin for his question. I know he is a fierce advocate for the whole delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, as all of us on this side of the parliament are. We introduced our legislation to finalise the delivery of the plan. That legislation will provide more time, more money, more options and more accountability. I particularly welcome all of the contributions that people have made on this legislation. I really enjoyed listening to the Leader of the National Party and his contribution.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You voted against the very plan—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What a load of rubbish—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals—

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He said that the coalition were on track to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Well, that's true if you think the year 4000 is a good year to deliver the plan! He also said that they were on track to deliver the 450 gigalitres of environmental water.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In fact, just two of those 450—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will pause. I can't hear what the minister is saying because the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Nationals are just continually talking while the minister is trying to give an answer. Question time can't work like that. Cease interjecting or you'll leave.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The leader of the National Party was claiming that their policies to deliver the 450 gigalitres of environmental water were working when they delivered just two of those 450 in nine years; or that we have reached the end of the plan—

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You voted for it.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Maranoa then left the chamber.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He claims that we've reached the end of the plan, despite the fact that we predict we'll be 750 gigalitres short under the settings of those opposite—or, most incredibly, that it's this bill that is the end of bipartisanship on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The end of bipartisanship came when those opposite decided to sabotage the plan instead of delivering it. I would say to the coalition that there is still room for bipartisanship here. Senator Birmingham, Senator Ruston, Senator McLachlan and, of course, the member for Sturt have all said that they support our plans to deliver on the water for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. So I very much hope that those senators and the member for Sturt will vote according to the comments that they've made.

There's something in our proposal for everyone. There is more time to deliver on the water-saving infrastructure, something those opposite have called for and the National Farmers Federation have called for. There is also a guarantee on the 450 gigalitres of environmental water, something we support, something the Greens should support, something the teals support and something the member for Mayo has made a very strong case for.

We need to deliver on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. We know that we are going into another hot, dry period. Unless we deliver environmental water, water for communities, water for farmers, water for industry and drinking water for millions of people, we will rue the day. (Time expired)