Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Wong in her capacity both as Minister for Climate Change and Water and the interrelated portfolio as Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Firstly, I would just like to acknowledge that sitting in the President’s gallery today is a delegation of locals from the Lower Lakes and Coorong communities—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that not one of the current proposals relating to the Lower Lakes—that is, weirs and flooding the lakes with salt water—sitting currently in Minister Garrett’s in-tray does anything to save the Lower Lakes or to ensure that we do not have the Lower Lakes delisted on the Ramsar listing, what is the government doing to ensure we do not lose this Ramsar listing? What is the plan to save the Lower Lakes?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hanson-Young for her question and acknowledge Ms Bell, I think, and others who are in the gallery today.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is unfortunate that those opposite think the courtesy of acknowledging people from one’s home state is something—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, just address the chair. Ignore their disorderly interjections.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I assume from Senator Hanson-Young’s question, where she says—somewhat dismissively, if I may say so, through you, Mr President—‘currently in Minister Garrett’s in-tray’, she is referring to applications under the EPBC Act which South Australia has lodged and which Minister Garrett is considering, I am sure, in accordance with his statutory discretion under the legislation. I am sure Senator Hanson-Young and other members of the Greens would want to ensure that he undertook his consideration of any application—whether it is about the Lower Lakes or otherwise—carefully and prudently, and I have no doubt Minister Garrett will. We are absolutely clear on this side of the chamber about the difficult situation in the Murray-Darling Basin, of which the Coorong and Lower Lakes are a part. The reality is we remain at historically low levels of inflow and storage, particularly in the southern Murray-Darling, and there are environmental pressures across that region, particularly in the southern part of the basin. The federal government and state governments are seeking to manage what is an extremely difficult situation.

For example, it is the case that we have put a substantial amount of funding on the table to assist the South Australian government in determining a long-term solution for the Lower Lakes. The good senator would be aware that we have committed $200 million for the long-term plan for the Lower Lakes. We have committed some $120 million to piping to ensure— (Time expired)

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the minister. Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. In order to save the Lower Lakes we actually need fresh water released downstream. Why does the government continue to flatly refuse to purchase temporary water that is available on the market to save the Lower Lakes and get it through this 12-month period so that, when the government’s long-term plan does come into effect, it has something to save?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am reminded of a press release from Mr Turnbull, who said he did not want us to purchase water, except he wanted temporary water for the Lower Lakes. The point is this: we have a $3.1 billion investment to purchase entitlement to reduce the ongoing extraction from the river. As Senator Hanson-Young knows, we have pressures across the basin. We also know that where we are likely to end up in terms of the Murray-Darling will demonstrate that our extraction levels are significantly above what a sustainable cap will be. So the policy question is: how do we reduce that? The fact is that purchasing entitlement is the best way to reduce that. If we purchased temporary water, I am sure that the Greens would also be critical of the government for not reducing extraction at other parts of the river. We have to think long term, we have to reduce how much we are extracting, we have to achieve maximum environmental benefit for that money, and the government is focused— (Time expired)

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister please answer: who is footing the bill for the construction and operation of the Wellington weir? Is any federal money going to it or being earmarked for it?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I have approved is a $10 million acceleration of the $200 million to South Australia to undertake a feasibility study into the long-term management options for this Ramsar listed site. To my recollection, that is the only expenditure to date approved under the $200 million. Of course, there is the additional funding, of which the senator is aware, for pipelines to supply irrigation water and potable water to communities who are doing it tough. There is also an additional $10 million for bioremediation, which the senator knows was one of the matters sought by the Greens.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: it was a specific question from Senator Hanson-Young about funding of the Wellington weir. The minister should address that particular question before her time is up.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, you have 17 seconds to address the question that has been asked by Senator Hanson-Young.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It might be that Senator Brown was not clear about what I said. The only investment out of the $200 million that I can recall having approved is the $10 million for the feasibility study—

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, on the Wellington weir.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, the feasibility study—

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the Wellington weir.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, not on the Wellington weir, Senator Brown, and perhaps you should get your facts right. (Time expired)