Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. In 2012, when announcing an additional 450 gigalitres of water recovery over and above sustainable diversion limits detailed in the Basin Plan, then Prime Minister Gillard said the water would be recovered via 'water recovery projects that minimise the impact on communities to ensure there is no social and economic downside for communities'. This intent was then written into the 2012 Basin Plan. Does the new Labor government stand by the 2012 commitment to communities for no negative social and economic impacts?

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

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, a first supplementary question?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So I'll take it as a no about your commitment to communities. But in 2018—you mentioned basin state ministers, and I appreciate the segue—all basin state ministers, including the Labor South Australian minister and the Labor Victorian minister, agreed to a set of criteria by which they could assess that there would be no negative social or economic impacts from this water recovery. Does the new Labor government respect the consensus of the ministerial council— (Time expired)

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

Thank you, Senator Davey, for the follow-up question. Let's look at what the nine years of the previous government delivered for these communities and what they delivered for—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Davey.

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I have a point of order on relevance. It was a very specific question; I wasn't asking about a history lesson, I was asking about the basin ministerial council.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister had just started his response. I will listen carefully and if he's not relevant I will draw him to the question. Please continue, Minister.

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

Thank you, President. I don't see anything inconsistent with what you've just read out. That has been the commitment of the state governments to what the Labor Party committed to when we were in government more than nine years ago, and that was the delivery of 450 gigalitres of water. I notice we haven't got one of the South Australians asking this question. The South Australians haven't asked this question because they know that the most important thing for the South Australian community—and I'm speaking now as a South Australian senator—is the delivery of that 450 gigalitres. How much did you deliver in the nine years that you were in government? (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, a second supplementary question?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Both New South Wales and Victoria have said on record that they're opposed to buybacks. The states are integral to delivering other aspects of the Basin Plan, such as constraints management. In an interview with the Adelaide Advertiser Ms Plibersek has said that she is open to buybacks. What will the government do if the states walk away from the Basin Plan?

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

I would plead with the states not to walk away from the Basin Plan, because the one bit of hope that the Murray-Darling Basin has is that we deliver on what was agreed more than nine years ago: 450 gigalitres of water. If we don't, we risk the ongoing survival of that—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Back buybacks! Actually 2,750—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie! The minister is answering, please listen. Please continue, Minister.

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

Thank you, President, for that protection from Senator McKenzie! We want a live and a life-giving river system in this country. We know just what the droughts in the early part of this century did to the communities along those rivers and we know what they did to people in South Australia. What Minister Plibersek says is right: we will do whatever it takes— (Time expired)