Dana Wortley (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, Senator Bernadi, I am happy to talk about that. While we are on the subject of the relationship between the Murray and climate change, let us look at a statement made by Senator Bernadi 12 months ago. He said:

I have come to believe we’re seeing a distortion of a whole area of science that is being manipulated—

manipulated—

to present a certain point of view to the global public, that is that the actions of man are the cause of climate change.

Before the submission was released, the opposition were demanding to see it. But now they are nowhere to be seen. Take a look around the chamber. They have gone to ground. We have had from those sitting opposite so many different positions. What their position is depends on which state they live in. When you are downstream in South Australia, you express outrage at the state of the Lower Lakes and you call for emergency action. We know that. When they are upstream in Victoria, they tell their constituents that the lakes cannot be saved and should not be saved and that the government should stop purchasing water entitlements. We know there are no easy options. We know that there are hard choices that have to be made.