Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I indicate my support for this amendment and I support the sentiments expressed by Senators Fisher, Hanson-Young and Birmingham in relation to this. The people of the Lower Lakes are bearing the brunt of years and years of policy inaction and mismanagement of the river upstream, and I think it is entirely appropriate that there be this additional package. I think it would be churlish not to acknowledge the assistance that the Commonwealth has given in terms of the pipeline project and a number of other measures. That needs to be acknowledged and it is welcome. But I believe this additional assistance is warranted in the context of the additional pressures the people of the Lower Lakes have been facing, through no fault of their own, as a result of not only the double whammy of drought and climate change but also the fundamental issues of overallocation and of mismanagement of the river system upstream.