Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

First, Senator Pocock, you're right about the effect of drought on the Murrumbidgee. I was the water minister during the millennium drought—

That was my fault? I assume that was a joke, Senator Ruston. That was a very stressful period for Canberrans, given the risk to the water supply for the ACT at the time. That—and the risk to Adelaide—was one of the reasons why critical human needs were given priority in the legislation and in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Obviously the first priority does have to be critical human needs.

I think the question went to the Snowy Hydro, the effect of that project and how that project will be managed. We remain committed to delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in a way that achieves the best possible social and economic outcomes for basin industries. It is the case that the growing impact of climate change will exacerbate the challenge of sustainably managing water resources. We recognise the interconnection of water use between energy, agriculture and the environment.

The advice I have is that the government is willing to consider all options for improving the ACT's water resource availability, including the operations of the Snowy scheme. We are committed to ensuring that the operations of the Snowy scheme address both the energy and water priorities, including for the ACT. I also understand that recently the minister I'm representing, Minister Plibersek, announced the new agreement between the ACT, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland—welcomed by the ACT government— (Time expired)