Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Fielding for this question. I was aware that he has been interested in this issue, and obviously there is some media commentary about his concerns about these issues. I have also had a discussion with Senator Fielding in which he raised these concerns with me.

I am advised that irrigators in the Gippsland region of Yarram are concerned about falling levels in the Latrobe aquifer. I am also advised that the CSIRO 2004 study into the aquifer’s falling water levels indicated that offshore oil and gas drilling and, to a minor extent, open-cut mining and irrigation practices have contributed to the lowering of the watertable. The government, together with the Victorian government, is funding further research into the falling groundwater levels in the Latrobe aquifer. This research will include a report on the socioeconomic impact on Yarram irrigators and the provision of information on assistance measures to address the impact on these irrigators. I am further advised that a report is due to be completed by the end of March this year. Senator Fielding referred to a commitment that the report be released in June last year and, for the completeness of the record, I indicate that that was a commitment by the previous government. I am also advised by my department that there is a local stakeholder group providing input into this study. In relation to the compensation issue raised by Senator Fielding, the government will reserve judgement on the issue of compensation until the study is complete.