Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much for the question, Senator McEwen. The utterances from those opposite would suggest that they think that they have a magic wand to create more water. All we have seen from the other side is opportunism and division. It is interesting to note the example we have had of this in the last 24 hours with Senator Bernardi issuing a press release saying that the Rudd government is not spending enough on purchasing water. It is interesting. I wonder where he was when they were in government and did not buy a single drop of water. But he is saying, ‘Not enough, we should be purchasing more water.’ I wonder whether Senator Bernardi has spoken to his shadow minister, because Mr Hunt has previously said, in reference to buybacks, it will not help the Murray. So Senator Bernardi wants us to buy more water and Mr Hunt says it will not help the Murray. (Time expired)