Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Australia needs sufficient water storage because of our highly variable rainfall and in order to underpin both our agricultural and urban needs. There is a fundamental need to build new water infrastructure in Australia. In 1980, Australia had 5.5 megalitres storage capacity per person in dams across the nation. That figure has now fallen to four megalitres per person. The reality is, if we do not build more capacity it will be about 2.5 megalitres per person by 2060. Building water infrastructure will be critical in unlocking the potential of many regional and rural areas. The inevitable economic development as a result of these initiatives can then build a critical mass needed by regional communities to enable the delivery of important services like health and education. The Abbott government is committed to helping facilitate economic growth by building water storage capacity. And as Mr Joyce says: 'You do not have a dams task force if you are not going to build dams.'