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

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I understand an alternative view is being expressed about whether or not we should focus on the River Murray. I would be very grateful for the member to put it very clearly on the record and then we will compare whether or not it equates with, for example, what the member for Sturt says. That would be a very interesting comparison. As for the government, we are very focused on making sure that this important national river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, is managed properly and managed nationally.

We are very focused on the needs of the river. We want to see environmental benchmarks, like the mouth of the river being open nine years out of 10, met. We want to make sure that there is security, that there is an understanding of what will happen for the future of the river and that we do have a reform that meets the needs of South Australia, that meets environmental benchmarks like keeping the mouth of the Murray open nine years out of 10 and that meets the needs of the people of South Australia. We will continue to work through to secure a Murray-Darling Basin plan. The people of South Australia have an opportunity to have their voices well and truly heard in that debate. I welcome them lifting their voices today, and we look forward to continuing to hear the voice of South Australia. (Time expired)

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