Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

We oppose this. A lack of rain has caused the drought but disastrous government regulation and a lack of foresight in building dams and water infrastructure has caused the water crisis. The fact is that the south of the Murray-Darling Basin is different from the north. The south has relatively regular and reliable water from the Snowy and higher rainfall, while the north has low rainfall and highly irregular rain in river catchments and relies on flood events from irregular cyclones and large storms.

One irregular cyclone or tropical low in the right part of a river catchment in the north brings water for years. Anyone who understands Australian climate and geography knows that. What the Greens fail to comprehend is that with additional dams—in particular, ones that could store water currently being lost as it runs out to sea in the north—the environment would benefit. More water within the Murray-Darling Basin system would increase water for the environment, farmers and communities. Everyone wins with dams.

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