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

I thank Senator Hurley for her question and her continued interest and work in the context of water policy. Since gaining office 12 months ago, the Rudd government has made significant progress in strengthening and improving water security in this country. Senators will be aware of the government’s $12.9 billion long-term plan, Water for the Future, which is all about preparing Australia for a future with less rain as a result of climate change.

We all know that the most pressing water security challenge that Australia faces is in the Murray-Darling Basin. We know that years of mismanagement, overallocation, drought and climate change have taken their toll on the Murray, and we have had 37 consecutive months of below average inflows into the Murray. We also know that what is needed is a new approach. I want to quote the Leader of the Opposition, who, when he was a minister, said this:

The principal problem with the Murray-Darling Basin has been that it’s never had a basin-wide plan. It’s never been run as one.

We in the government are delivering on what Mr Turnbull said was needed. We have forged an agreement with the states which is about, for the first time, running the Murray-Darling Basin, managing that basin, as a whole of basin—exactly what Mr Turnbull said was needed.

But of course the question is whether or not this historic agreement is threatened by the same people—those on the other side—who were unable to deliver any progress on the Murray for their entire 12 years in government. We know that there is division on the other side between those who are more sensible about this issue and those who want to play short-term political games with the long-term future of the Murray-Darling Basin. What we know is that we will see again in this place, just like we did on the carbon sinks, debate over whether those on the other side will in fact back Mr Turnbull, because it was Mr Turnbull who recognised that a basin-wide approach was required. (Time expired)