Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I am a senator for South Australia, and so is Senator Hanson-Young. I apologise for the Constitution, Senator! But the reality is this: the Minister for the Environment and Water tabled the second Review of the Water for the Environment Special Account report and, just like the member for Hume, who hid a price rise for electricity, this was also hidden to the Australian people before the election. You know why? It was because what it showed was the decade of sabotage that those opposite have engaged in when it comes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

They promised 450 gigs. You know how many they delivered? Two out of 450! We know why: they never wanted to deliver it. They never wanted to deliver it, and we know that because the National Party are still saying that and came into the chamber, whilst in government, and tried to blow up the Murray-Darling plan.

I invite Senator Birmingham, as the most senior South Australian, to rein in—

I will get to it—to rein in those on that side who continue to want to sabotage this important reform.

We have made clear that Labor is committed to delivering the basin plan in full. It's what we signed up for. The minister has made it clear that that remains the approach. But I would say this: it has become a great deal harder now that it has been disclosed that you delivered two out of 450. Why did they think it was okay to hide that before the election? I'm not surprised you take a point of order.