Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I have supreme confidence not just that Barnaby Joyce will effectively manage the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and deliver under that plan; I have supreme confidence also—in relation to your question—that, if anybody will look after and stand up for Australian farmers, it is Barnaby Joyce. Barnaby Joyce will stand up for Australian farmers and their interests.

Senator Hanson-Young, you said I am the only South Australian who might believe that Barnaby Joyce cares about SA. I have stood with Mr Joyce on the banks of the Lower Lakes. I have been there with Mr Joyce, visiting irrigators around Murray Bridge, up in the Riverland. I do know that he cares. I do know that he seems to know an awful lot more about how the Water Act works than you seem to know, because the ineptitude in your questions demonstrates that the Australian Greens, who voted against the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, have learnt nothing in this space, whereas I know that Mr Joyce knows it, understands it, cares about it and will deliver.