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

I am very pleased to discuss this, even though it is not directly related to the legislation. I have had numerous discussions with both the Prime Minister and the South Australian Premier, the Hon. Jay Weatherill, in relation to this issue. In fact, I spoke to Premier Weatherill about these matters less than an hour ago. The Prime Minister forwarded a letter to the honourable Mr Weatherill earlier today, a copy of which was forwarded to me and to other basin first ministers. That is something that I have put online, with the permission of the parties involved, as I was copied in to it. It seems to me that there has been real progress made. I was concerned over the comments made by the federal water minister. I have had numerous discussions with the South Australian water minister, the Hon. Ian Hunter. I could say parenthetically that, despite the publicity about Mr Hunter's language, not once has he used a profanity in all my discussions with him in the last 10 days.