Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I would just like to express the Greens’ support for Senator Xenophon’s amendment and express our complete disappointment that the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong, has rejected outright the purchase of fresh water that is so desperately needed for the Lower Lakes and the river. Years and years of mismanagement and overallocation have left the communities who rely on the Murray-Darling Basin, from the top right down to the south at the Coorong, struggling every day. That is because of mistakes that were made by previous governments, time and time again. And there is a lack of courage and a lack of will to tackle those issues head-on now.

I support Senator Xenophon’s call for fast-tracking money into restructuring and the purchasing of water allocations throughout the basin. I am disappointed that Senator Wong has not had the courage or the will to access the water that is available on the market, to give back to the river what it desperately deserves and needs. Senator Xenophon and all other South Australian senators in this chamber would be very disappointed to see no action in the next 12 months to secure fresh water for the river and the lakes. I am positive that we will not finish this debate on securing water that is desperately needed, whether this stimulus package is passed or not.