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

I thank the Senator for his question. This is an exit grant that the Australian government announced for small block irrigators of 15 hectares or less. It was announced as a result of representations made by the South Australian government to the South Australian Premier and also as a result of discussions that I and others have had with irrigation communities. It is the case that we made the decision to offer the grant also in Victoria. But I should be clear on what measures are being sought from the Victorian government on this issue. They are, in large part, measures which we believe are necessary to enable delivery of this assistance—and can I indicate that reform requests have been made of the South Australian government as well.