Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. My question is to Senator Conroy, representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. On 28 October 2012, Minister Burke, in a media release titled 'Gillard government supports the Riverland',announced $265 million in funding for water projects and industry support for the Riverland in South Australia: $180 million for the Water Industry Alliance, and $85 million for research, regional development, and industry redevelopment. During Senate estimates on 12 February this year the first assistant secretary of the department, Mary Harwood, said the South Australian government was 'still developing the business case'. Ms Harwood was referring to the $180 million fund. Can the minister advise when a draft business plan from the South Australian government was submitted, when was feedback provided by the Commonwealth, and when are these desperately needed funds expected to flow to the Riverland?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Xenophon. I am just seeing if there is any information I can gather for you at this stage. It is not something that, as you would understand, I am fully across. If there is any further information, Mr President, I am happy to take it on notice and get you a full and comprehensive answer.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As a courtesy to Senator Conroy's office, we did advise him that these were issues we wanted to canvass today, but that is okay.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is a statement. That is something that you can debate afterwards. You have got the question.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask a supplementary question. The Commonwealth response, in Senate estimates, seems to imply that the South Australian government has failed to promptly act in relation to the funding. Is it not the case that the draft business plan was provided by the South Australian government over two months ago, and has still not been finalised in conjunction with the Commonwealth?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, there seems to have been a miscommunication between our offices, Senator Xenophon. My apologies for that. I will seek to get to the bottom of it. If there is any further information I can get from the minister, I will seek to. As you are aware, with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, after more than 100 years of water disputes in the south-east of Australia, Minister Burke was pleased that the final Basin Plan was approved on 22 November 2012 and was tabled in parliament. The plan has now passed the parliamentary disallowance period and the government's water reforms are locked into law. This is a tremendous achievement for the government and, importantly, the basin, after 100 years of haggling. I know, Senator Xenophon, you have been very, very determined to see an end to this haggling. Only the Gillard government could deliver this outcome. (Time expired)

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my left! When there is silence, we will proceed.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask a further supplementary question. Will the minister make an unequivocal, urgent undertaking that these funds, namely $265 million, as promised by Minister Burke, will be spent on the Riverland community—and, if so, when?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am happy to answer what parts of that question might be relevant but if there is anything I miss, Senator Xenophon, I am happy to take that on notice and also seek further information from Minister Burke.

The Victorian government's Lindsay Island project, announced on 9 January 2013 by Minister Burke and Victorian Minister for Water, the Hon. Peter Walsh MP, will be the first project to use environmental works. The plan overall will return an average of 2,750 gigalitres of surface water to the environment each year—

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order: it is a matter of direct relevance. The minister is talking about a Victorian project, not the Riverlands in South Australia.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, you need to come to the question. You have 23 seconds remaining to answer the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, I will happily take on notice any further parts of the question and seek information from the minister. Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.