Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:01 pm
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Colbeck. I refer to his statement yesterday in relation to the allocation of water responsibilities in which he said:
Within the actual agricultural portfolio, there are still negotiations being conducted between Minister Joyce and his assistant minister in relation to the overall specifics of the allocation of the portfolio…
What are the overall specifics to which the minister is referring?
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education
2:02 pm
As Senator Wong would know, having been a cabinet minister, within a ministerial portfolio, members of the portfolio take responsibility for certain elements of that portfolio and of that ministry. My understanding is that those arrangements are still being finalised between minister—
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science
What does the ministerial order say?
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education
If you do not understand the difference between ministerial orders, Senator Carr, and a charter letter, you ought to give up because you are doing a perfect impersonation of a boofhead in this place.
Stephen Parry President
Order! Senator Colbeck, you need to withdraw that comment.
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education
I withdraw. As I understand it, the charter letter from the Prime Minister has not been finalised yet, but the arrangements between Minister Joyce and Assistant Minister Ruston will be finalised. As we all understand, a cabinet minister ultimately has responsibility for all elements of the portfolio, and in that context ultimately Minister Joyce is responsible for the elements of the water portfolio that are within his portfolio. I am not sure what all the excitement is from Senator Wong. The important thing for water and for Australia is that water is under the responsibility of the coalition and not the opposition. (Time expired)
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:04 pm
I ask a supplementary question. Does the minister agree with Senator John Williams, who says that the only interpretation of the coalition agreement is that water must go entirely to the agriculture minister, Mr Joyce, and not to his assistant minister, Senator Ruston?
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education
2:05 pm
As I said a moment ago, ultimately the responsibility for water within the agriculture and water resources portfolio is with Minister Joyce. Whether Minister Joyce and Senator Ruston have agreed to some arrangements about the overall management of water within the portfolio is a matter for them and the Prime Minister. I am sure that those arrangements will be finalised in due course. I said yesterday that we are a very contented coalition, and we are. I had the great fortune to spend two years in the agriculture portfolio working with Minister Joyce. I got on famously with Minister Joyce. He was great to work with. He was a very good senior minister to work with. I do not expect that he will be any different with Senator Ruston. In fact, I am sure he will be the same. (Time expired)
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:06 pm
I ask a further supplementary question. I again ask whether or not the minister agrees with Senator Williams? And I ask this: given that ministerial responsibilities have not been settled, can he explain why Mr Joyce is already making water policy announcements, given Mr Joyce's track record—including telling South Australians to move where the water is—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party
What track record?
Government senators interjecting—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
This has got the Nationals going, hasn't it? How can people in my home state have any confidence that he will make decisions in their best interests?
Bill Heffernan NSW, Liberal Party
Mr President, on a point of order: could I point out, and Penny knows this, that she completely ballsed it up.
Stephen Parry President
Senator Heffernan, sit down. You do not have a point of order. Senator Heffernan, resume your seat. That is not a point of order, that is an abuse of using a point of order.
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education
2:07 pm
As I said, we are a very contented coalition. We are a very contented coalition, and I am certain that the relationship between Minister Joyce and Assistant Minister Ruston will be a very positive and productive one.
On the record of water: Senator Wong should not raise the record of purchases of water or anything to do with water in this place, because her record is absolutely abysmal. In fact, her record in purchasing water and the mistakes that she made in purchasing water when she was in that portfolio were a perfect entree into her role as Minister for Finance and Deregulation, where she has a reputation for having been one of the worst finance ministers ever. So there are plenty of examples, as—
Claire Moore Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women
Mr President, I raise a point of order on direct relevance to the question about Senator Joyce's position and his making of statements. The minister has not gone anywhere near that part of the question.
Stephen Parry President
Thank you, Senator Moore. I will remind the minister of the question and inform the minister he has 13 seconds in which to answer.
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education
Senator Wong's record as water minister was completely abysmal. As Senator—
Claire Moore Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women
Again, Mr President, I raise a point of order on direct relevance. You drew the attention of the minister to the question, and he went straightaway against the process of your direction.
Stephen Parry President
Thank you, Senator Moore. I will remind the minister of the question. He has seven seconds in which to answer.
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education
The water for Adelaide has been secured. As Senator Birmingham said, it was secured by the development of the plan. (Time expired)