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

the average amount of water flowing down the River Murray system annually for each of the last three years has been just one-fifth of the long-term average. We cannot ignore, although Senator Bernardi would like to, the findings of the South Eastern Australian Climate Initiative, which showed there is a clear link between rainfall reduction over south-eastern Australia and observed global warming. Australia’s own scientists are telling us this fact.

These challenges have been compounded further by decades of mismanagement of the system. Whilst no government can make it rain, the Rudd government are delivering our plan to meet these challenges. We have taken over basin-wide planning, and for the first time Australia will have a scientifically based limit on water use in the basin. That is the only takeover that counts. All the bluff and bluster on the other side would mean nothing more than further delay on real action, just as we saw exemplified during their more than decade in government on this issue. We are investing in irrigation to help our farmers in regional communities and to protect water security, and we are purchasing water to return to our rivers. Those opposite— (Time expired)