Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Davey for her question. What the federal Albanese government stands by, Senator, and what Minister Plibersek stands by, is the commitment that we made when we were last in government to restore the health of the mighty river system, the Murray-Darling river system, and, in doing that, ensure that the 450 gigalitres of water that were promised to that river system are delivered upon.

We don't want life to be any harder for inland communities in this country. There was significant consultation at the time that that plan was delivered. I, in fact, was the deputy water minister to Minister Burke who delivered that system. We made a promise to the people of Australia. We made a promise to all of those people whose livelihood survives along that river system, and the promise that we made was we'll deliver that 450 gigalitres of water.

Now, it wasn't just the federal government that entered into that understanding, that promise; it was all of the state governments, including those governments that are of a Liberal persuasion now, like New South Wales. So, the federal government and the state governments all committed to the delivery of that 450 gigalitres, and we intend to do it. (Time expired)