Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for COAG) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. I refer to the report issued last Friday by the COAG Reform Council on water-saving infrastructure projects in the Murray-Darling Basin. The report highlights that, of your government’s so-called priority projects for water saving infrastructure, only two of 17 have been completed. To quote the report:

... there were significant delays in the development and approval all other projects.

What impact do these delays have on the livelihood of those whose lives are already on hold while the government attempts to sort out yet another mess?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My understanding of the process is that the states actually deliver the projects. That is what I thought happened. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is an independent authority.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You don’t know the answer to this question, do you?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am representing another minister, thank you, Senator Brandis. The government is trying to achieve three outcomes: to deliver a healthy river system, to deliver it acknowledging the importance of food protection and to deliver strong regional communities. That was the objective when the Water Act was first introduced, and this government’s determination to reach that objective is there as well. The minister has sought and received legal advice from the Australian Government Solicitor on the requirements of the Water Act. This advice has helped clarify what the requirements of the act are and how the act plays a role in helping to deliver what is referred to as the triple-bottom-line approach. The minister will table this—

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise in a point of order. He has already tabled the advice. I am reading it here. Doesn’t Minister Conroy have it?

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

There is no point of order.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will table the advice in parliament this afternoon—that is my advice. I am glad he has already tabled it. Let’s acknowledge that the government’s triple-bottom-line approach is what those in opposition once claimed they sought too when they were in government. It is certainly what the member for Wentworth sought and I hope it is what the Leader of the Opposition is willing to help deliver.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray Darling Basin) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. With 24 seconds left on the clock, I point out to you that the minister has not mentioned once the COAG priority projects for water-saving infrastructure that Senator Payne was asking about. Perhaps you could ask the minister to be directly relevant in his answer.

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

I cannot direct the minister how to answer the question. The minister has 24 seconds remaining. I draw the minister’s attention to the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We need to remember that we only have a guide at this stage to the proposed plan that has been developed by the independent authority. It is unreasonable to discuss rejecting a plan that will not be finalised for another year. The government is committed to introducing this reform.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite may want to interject— (Time expired)

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for COAG) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. The COAG Reform Council report also states ‘the fact that most projects remain in the development and preapproval stages appears contrary to the need for urgent action’. How does the government justify to these communities its failure to take urgent action?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite have absolutely no credibility on this issue. They continue to cry wolf, they continue to complain and they continue to believe that somehow they had a policy that was in any way relevant. They have abandoned all of the—

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I have just heard that Senator Conroy wants a copy of his own report—that is, the Australian Government Solicitor’s report issued today by Robert Orr QC and Helen Neville. We do not have time to photocopy it. Do you want me to just walk it around to you, Senator?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order, I think that is Senator Joyce’s fourth contribution today on attempted points of order where nothing has been raised of any substance, other than an attempt by Senator Joyce to somehow prove he is relevant to the Senate and a couple of very poor jokes. Mr President, I think Senator Joyce’s points of order are designed to wilfully delay question time in the Senate. I suggest you rule this one out of order and suggest to Senator Joyce that he might examine his behaviour.

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

There is no point of order. Senator Conroy has 39 seconds remaining.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The original funding profile reflected early estimates made in advance of the extensive planning required for major infrastructure investment. Many of these infrastructure projects are highly complex—in particular, the state priority projects. It is important that robust business cases are prepared to support the investment of very large sums of public money. The Commonwealth due diligence process is vital for ensuring that state priority projects deliver much-needed water efficiency, river health outcomes and real benefits for irrigation communities. (Time expired)

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for COAG) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. When will the minister have the courage to visit these communities and look them in the eyes rather than hide behind public servants? If, as you said at the beginning of your response, the states are responsible for delivering, what use is COAG?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is determined that the investment in rural water infrastructure will result in value for money: fit-for-purpose projects which best provide for a viable and sustainable future for irrigation industries. Comprehensive due diligence assessment of business cases is necessary and involves rigorous analysis against technical, socioeconomic and environmental data.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: relevance. The question was, ‘When will the minister look the communities in the eyes rather than hide behind a public servant?’ That was the question, Senator Conroy. On no view is anything the minister has said in response to the second supplementary question—after he floundered around for the first two questions addressing the wrong report—remotely relevant, let alone directly relevant.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, what we have now heard is a rant as an excuse for a point of order. The minister has been directly relevant to the question and has been addressing the second supplementary question. Unfortunately, Senator Brandis saw too much of an opportunity to provide a rant rather than listen to the response by Senator Conroy in respect of the second supplementary question. The minister continues to be relevant and is answering the question and there is no point of order.

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

Senator Conroy, I draw your attention to the fact that you have 33 seconds remaining in which to answer the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As those opposite well know, the minister visited Griffith, one of the communities involved, just last week. But of the 13 state-led priority projects, one has been completed—the South Australia Lower Lakes integrated pipeline project, $120 million—which is assisting communities that were previously reliant on the Lower Lakes. Two pilot projects are underway in New South Wales—Border Rivers-Gwydir pilot project—as part of the $300 million irrigated farm modernisation project and metering pilot project— (Time expired)