Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Let me reject utterly the premise of that question. I repeat what I said in my earlier answers: the government strongly supports the independence of the authority. Accusations that the minister directed the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to change numbers in the guide—and all of the other filth that those opposite are now engaged in trying to assert—are completely without foundation. Senator Birmingham continues to trail his coat when he used to be a serious conversationalist and a serious player in this debate. Now he is reduced to making unfounded, inaccurate and untrue allegations about Minister Burke. I reject them utterly. No attempt to verbal me will get you anywhere at all.