Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I asked a question of the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources during question time yesterday about the upgrade of Chaffey Dam, which is the major source of water for Tamworth and the Peel River irrigators in the electorate of New England. The question related to any policy objections that the minister might have at a federal level. As part of his answer the minister said that the states were responsible for water even though changes were proposed at the federal level, but he did indicate that there could be some federal policy implications as a result of the enlargement of the dam and that the Environmental and Biodiversity Conservation Act might be an issue. I asked the minister whether he had any objections, and he replied:

I cannot tell the honourable member whether I object to something in respect of which I know no more than that which he offered to the House just a few moments ago.

I call on the minister to correct the parliamentary record. He is essentially saying that he knew nothing about the enlargement of Chaffey Dam. He should revisit his answer. I am told that departmental officers have been in a quandary today about how to handle the minister’s misleading of the House that I allege occurred yesterday. The record shows that the minister was well aware of the proposal to augment Chaffey Dam. This proposal has been through a range of processes and it has been ticked off by the state government, the local council and the local irrigators. I asked a simple question of the minister yesterday and received a two-part answer. He said, first, that he did not know about it and, secondly, that he was unable—

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