Patrick Secker (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. I refer the minister to the comments by the head of the National Farmers Federation yesterday:

The last two weeks have gone so badly that we actually threaten the entire water reform agenda … at the moment the trust in our communities in regional Australia is threadbare …

Why won’t the minister attend any of the 19 community briefings on the Murray-Darling Basin guide to help restore trust in the government’s ability to deliver balanced and consultative water reform?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the question from the member for Barker is the same as the answers that were given yesterday in the MPI and the same as have been given in question time each day this week—that is, I will continue to be out in irrigation communities, conducting consultation, but it will not be at the events organised by an independent authority.