Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Kingston for her question and I thank her for her continued advocacy on behalf of the people of her electorate and the people of South Australia about the future of the River Murray. I was very pleased to join her this morning, along with other South Australian government MPs—the member for Wakefield, the member for Makin, the member for Hindmarsh, the member for Adelaide and Mr Butler—as well as Senator Wong at an event organised by the Adelaide Advertiser to put a spotlight on the River Murray. As a result of that event, many people in this parliament today are wearing the badges that say they love the River Murray.

I would like to congratulate the Adelaide Advertiser for its continued focus on the future of the River Murray. Growing up in South Australia, I understand what it is like for the people of South Australia and the people of Adelaide to worry about the future of the river. I know what it is like to be in Adelaide in days of drought. I know what it is like to have that sense of relying for your water security on the river and knowing that what is available in South Australia depends so much on the conduct of others upstream. I understand that the people of Adelaide do worry about too much water having been taken out of the Murray and, as a result, they worry about its future. We are working through a—

Mr McCormack interjecting—

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