Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister has told South Australia that the previously agreed 450 gigalitres in recovery of environmental water for the Murray-Darling cannot now be delivered because, he says, there would be 'significant social and economic detriment'. Given the Prime Minister's statement today, where he said, 'We are committed to the Basin Plan. We're committed to ensuring that we do the right thing by the environment, the right thing by irrigation communities,' does the minister acknowledge that the funds in the Water for the Environment Special Account can and should be used according to section 86AD(2)(c)(ii) of the Water Act, using the act's wording 'address any detrimental social or economic impact on the wellbeing of any community in the Murray-Darling Basin so as to offset any such impact'? Minister, what detailed consideration and planning has the government undertaken to ensure the special account is used as intended in the act? Will the minister table all such documents relating thereto?