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

The question is incorrect. The government, unlike the government which preceded us, do listen to scientific advice. I would like to make the point that we have already had officials from the Murray-Darling Basin states meet in Adelaide to examine this urgent problem. I make the point again that the best thing we can do for the health of the river, whether that is the lower lakes or the Coorong, is to return water to the river. So, Senator Chapman—through you, Mr President—if the opposition are to have any credibility on this issue they need to deal with the opposition in their own ranks to returning water to the river.