Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. I had a surreal experience last week, Minister, standing with uncommon allies supporting an independent inquiry into allegations of water theft aired recently on the ABC Four Corners program. I noticed that you, Minister, were photographed in the Goulburn Post in 2012 with your allies, former state water minister, Hodgkinson, and current primary industries minister, Blair. Both are key players in the Barwon-Darling affair, and you were photographed at a National Party event. The Daily Telegraph claims Mr Blair long knew about the illegal water-pumping allegations against the same Mr Peter Harris accused of water theft on Four Corners. Then Mr Blair, last week, lobbied state cabinet and gave himself powers to retrospectively approve water allocated to Mr Harris. Is this the same Peter Harris who donated $5,000 on two occasions in 2011 to the National Party? And if so, does this not strengthen the case for a truly independent inquiry?