Murray-Darling Basin

Mr STEVE WHAN: My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water. Can the Minister update the House on the situation in the Murray-Darling Basin?

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: I acknowledge the member's long interest in matters that so dramatically affect his constituents.

Mr Chris Hartcher: Getting re-elected.

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: I am sure the member for Monaro is motivated by other than that. For nigh on three decades I have travelled the State of New South Wales, principally in another guise, and I have been to just about every country town and village in the State. The journey on Tuesday was very sobering and very saddening. On Tuesday I visited Buronga and Dareton in the Sunraysia region to meet with local irrigators and other members of the community. This followed previous visits to Griffith, Deniliquin, Leeton, Albury, Young and Walgett, and the list goes on. Since taking on this portfolio six months ago I have seen it as vital to get an appreciation, first hand, of just how grim the situation is in the Murray-Darling Basin. It gives me absolutely no pleasure to report to the House that we continue to face a very, very serious situation in regard to water availability in the Murray-Darling Basin. I am sure that would not come as a surprise to anyone.

We are still in the grip of the worst drought in recorded history, and the situation in the Murray Valley is critical to say the least. On Tuesday I met with representatives from Western Murray Irrigation and various grower groups in the Euston, Coomealla and Mourquong districts. These communities are doing it tough, and without significant rainfall it will take many years to recover from the losses. On a slightly more positive note, the implementation of our critical water program—the effective management of the little water we have left, due to the foresight of the Iemma Government in anticipating this crisis—has meant that we are able to provide survival water for permanent plantings for the next six to eight weeks. Whilst this may not yield a crop, in most cases the program has ensured the survival of the plants.

Mr Andrew Fraser: Why are you still charging them fixed water charges?

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Coffs Harbour to order for the third time.

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: If members opposite have a better way of doing this, I would be delighted to hear from them.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will cease interjecting.

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: It is all very well to be critical of what we are doing, but we are managing the most severe crisis in country New South Wales in 100 years—and the way in which we are managing the crisis is being acknowledged by the very people that the drought affects.

Mr Andrew Fraser: No, it's not.

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: Yes, it is. And the reason we are not yet at the point of postponing fixed charges is that those fixed charges provide the wherewithal to maintain the infrastructure that is so vital to the delivery of the water. When this drought ends, that infrastructure will need to be in good order to enable us to deliver water to the people who are currently suffering from the effects of the drought.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Wagga Wagga to order. I remind the member for Coffs Harbour that he is on three calls to order.

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: If the member for Coffs Harbour has a plan, or any ideas that will aid and abet our methodology for helping these people in trouble—other than just rhetoric—I would be delighted to hear it. So far he has put forward nothing. In the Murray Valley, as a consequence of prudent management of the little water we have left, 25 per cent of water entitlements suspended in accounts in 2006 have been repaid. Along with freeing up the trade rules around the natural restrictions of Barmah Choke, we have made more water available for sale in the valley. So at least the farmers, irrigators and horticulturalists who want to avail themselves of the market and sell entitlements to those who really need them at the moment are able to do so.

As part of our prudent management of the little water we have left, we have totally rejected the Commonwealth's proposal to put large amounts of water aside for some time in the future. That would simply bring on a crisis now, rather than in 6 or 12 months, by which time things may have improved. My visit to the Sunraysia region also provided an opportunity to increase the community input into the management of our scarce water resource. Very soon after I took on this portfolio I established a high-level advisory group that would look at the equity of water distribution, the trading regime, and the dire social issues associated with this drought. The Iemma Government's involvement in the decision-making process of the very people who are suffering is paying dividends.

We are in new territory here, and we need to consider new and innovative solutions to this crisis. As I told the media during my visit on Tuesday, we have to start thinking outside the box. I have begun working on new proposals to discuss with the Premier and my Cabinet colleagues. We need to consider things like borrowing or leasing water from the Murrumbidgee Valley or the Snowy Mountains Scheme. If necessary, we will see what measures are available to us to reprieve the financial load in terms of the issues the member for Coffs Harbour has raised. However, that will be a decision for the Government, and it will be made in a proper, measured and calm way as part of managing this crisis—and it is a crisis.

The SPEAKER: Order! Perhaps the member for Coffs Harbour could take up this matter with the Minister later. He will cease interjecting.

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: Over $300 million will be made available by the Government to help these people deal with the crisis. These options, amongst other proposals, will be thoroughly investigated as we develop solid plans to respond to the crisis. There should be a bipartisan approach to this issue, and it should be above politics. This is what we are attempting to do. The Iemma Government is showing leadership on this most serious issue. If the Opposition has any sensible plans that have not previously been canvassed, we welcome the chance to consider them—and I mean that most sincerely.

There is no sign of this drought breaking, and it is reasonable to say that unless something happens very shortly the situation in the Murray-Darling Basin will become even more critical than it is now. What has been particularly disappointing is the Howard Government's complete failure to persuade the States and Territories to subscribe to the National Plan. The New South Wales Premier was the first Premier in all the jurisdictions, in keeping with the sound management of natural resources, to sign up to the National Plan. Months and months after New South Wales signed up to the plan, we still have nothing from the Federal Government. The Prime Minister has failed in his ambition to have a unified and cohesive plan for the Murray-Darling system—a system that is under greater threat than it has ever been in this country's history.

Mr George Souris: Gulp!

Mr PHILIP KOPERBERG: Yes, gulp! I hope that in the fullness of time the Federal Government is able to orchestrate a position whereby what it espouses to be necessary management of that system can actually be brought to fruition. I live in hope.