Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

To help the senator, I might quote directly from a South Australian Department of Environment, Water and National Resources website that states that the Basin Plan 'sets a target of 2,750 gigalitres by 2019, with potential to increase this by another 450 gigalitres'—'potential', Senator Hanson-Young. That is a direct quote from the South Australian government. The 450 gigalitres was always, under the Basin Plan, potentially able to be delivered but was only going to be potentially delivered in accordance with the criteria of the Basin Plan as agreed. So that criteria has to be met. We will not agree to any additional water that causes detriment on a social or economic basis, because of jobs cost, the impact on families in the basin and the impact on our ability to have access to fresh and cheaply available food in this country. They are all important objectives for the Australian people. We have a balanced approach in this plan and we will implement the plan in full.