Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

It's passing strange that they're offended by what I say, and now when I bring into the chamber not just the lived experience but the water that Australian citizens in New South Wales are expected to drink, you're offended to the point of shutting that down. Honestly! Is it any wonder people are fed up with the Labor Party and this government and the Greens, who facilitate their abomination? That is the water that our citizens are drinking because of your policy decisions. It's offensive to you and it should be offensive to you. It's embarrassing and shameful to all of us!

The commission of inquiry is a term-limited examination of how we can use science better. We know we don't need to take more water from the basin to get the environmental outcomes we need. We know that. The science is clear. You don't want to hear it, but it's clear, so let's make the decision to pause the buybacks, stop raping these communities of their water assets and actually have a commission of inquiry. I commend the bill to the Senate. We have so much more to say on this, and it's unfortunate that this debate will be concluding. When it does, I'll seek to just adjourn. We want to be able to discuss this more when private senators' time is able to come back.

In terms of basin communities, it says everything about this government that they do not want to hear from these communities. They're not running for the seat of Farrer, because they don't care. The Prime Minister promised that he would govern for all Australians. Well, that actually means that, when you have the opportunity to stand up and represent them, you take that chance. Cooey, Albo! By-election—you're nowhere to be seen. For those Labor voters in the seat of Farrer, if you care about the basin, as I know you do, and you actually appreciate the role of water in the sustainability of your communities not just out in Griffith or Denny but indeed in Farrer—it actually underpins your entire economic ecosystem—then you will be backing those candidates that want to see agriculture thrive, community sustained and the environment flourish.

And, yes, we're hearing the Greens and the Labor Party screaming across the chamber that, somehow, we're out of touch. Well, I am happy with every single speech I have made on water policy in the 15 years I've been in this place. (Time expired)

Debate interrupted.