Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) | Hansard source

Firstly, our government, of course, is committed to effective action on climate change. Not only are we on track to meet and exceed the emissions reduction targets signed on to in Kyoto, we also have a plan to meet our emissions reduction targets to 2030 agreed to in Paris. In relation to the Murray-Darling Basin, the government is committed to delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, to ensure benefits flow to communities, farmers and the environment. We have achieved a lot, but we acknowledge the Basin Plan isn't perfect. Reversing the effects of the past 100 years of management will take time. The basin isn't just a source of precious water; it's our food bowl. Almost half our irrigated agriculture production comes from the basin. It is home to more than two million people and supports tens of thousands of businesses. So we are committed to effective action on climate change and we are committed to effective implementation of the Basin Plan, but we do understand that it takes time to reverse 100 years of previous decision-making.