Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the New South Wales Government plans to water down environmental rules to fast-track approvals for new dams and pipelines,

  (ii) the Murray-Darling River is in environmental collapse and bypassing environmental protections will do more harm,

  (iii) plans to override environmental protections will have negative impacts on downstream communities and the health of the river system, and

  (iv) building dams will not make it rain; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to rule out giving any public funding to dam and water infrastructure projects that circumvent environmental assessment and do not abide by proper environmental protections.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government welcomes the commitment of the New South Wales government to secure future water supplies for communities in rural and regional Australia. The drought has highlighted the need to look deliberately and responsibly at new water infrastructure nationally. This is vital for the long-term future of many communities in regional Australia. Any dam approvals, either within the Murray-Darling Basin or outside it, will need to meet any necessary state and federal environmental approvals.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor will not be supporting the motion. I acknowledge that Senator Hanson-Young postponed it yesterday at my request. I do acknowledge that. However, we are not in a position to support it as we are waiting for more information that's apparently coming from the New South Wales government. That hasn't been provided as yet and so we're not in a position to support the motion at this time, but I do acknowledge the postponement yesterday.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We oppose this. A lack of rain has caused the drought but disastrous government regulation and a lack of foresight in building dams and water infrastructure has caused the water crisis. The fact is that the south of the Murray-Darling Basin is different from the north. The south has relatively regular and reliable water from the Snowy and higher rainfall, while the north has low rainfall and highly irregular rain in river catchments and relies on flood events from irregular cyclones and large storms.

One irregular cyclone or tropical low in the right part of a river catchment in the north brings water for years. Anyone who understands Australian climate and geography knows that. What the Greens fail to comprehend is that with additional dams—in particular, ones that could store water currently being lost as it runs out to sea in the north—the environment would benefit. More water within the Murray-Darling Basin system would increase water for the environment, farmers and communities. Everyone wins with dams.

Question agreed to.