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

I move general business notice of motion No. 244:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) the statement made by the Queensland Premier, Ms Annastacia Palaszczuk, reported in the Brisbane Times on 30 October 2019, indicating she would be open to discussing the development of a 'smaller version of the Bradfield scheme' with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and

  (ii) that, on 1 November 2019, the Courier Mail reported that LNP Leader, Ms Deb Frecklington, has committed to an updated version of the Bradfield Scheme in the form of a 'multibillion-dollar water scheme that could drought-proof parched western Queensland'; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to ensure the construction of a Bradfield-type scheme can begin, in Queensland, as swiftly as possible.

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.

Scott Ryan (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 is already fulfilling the core of this motion by building water infrastructure throughout Australia, including in Queensland. The government has $3.5 billion in grants and loans for water infrastructure projects. We commend the Queensland LNP leader, Deb Frecklington, for raising the need for new water infrastructure in Queensland and, by doing so, forcing the Queensland Premier to open her eyes to the possibilities. This government has established the National Water Grid Authority, which will consider options for developing large-scale water capture and transfer schemes such as those proposed in this motion, and others. We're committed to building water infrastructure to grow our agricultural sector, and to improve stock and domestic supply and, importantly, flood mitigation and droughtproofing, and we'll work with any state government to do so. Therefore, there is no reason for the Australian government to oppose this motion.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I support the building of dams, but I do not support expensive and wasteful boondoggles that are designed to change the climate. A little known fact is that JJC Bradfield's original scheme was to pump water into Central Australia in the hope of altering Australia's climate. I have stood against climate change schemes which waste taxpayer dollars pumping water through mountain ranges, over mountain ranges or, indeed, up to the Snowy Mountains scheme so it can run back down again. That is a complete waste of taxpayer money. Build dams, but don't build schemes that are uneconomic, unviable, unsustainable and will not alter the climate one jot or one tittle in this country.

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.

Scott Ryan (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 can't support the motion in its current form, because it calls on the government to take steps to ensure the construction of a yet-to-be-proposed scheme. There is no detail on what it is. Water infrastructure must be well thought through because projects can have serious consequences for Australian farmers and communities and our environment, which is why we have the assessment process to determine if projects will work not and if they will deliver what our communities need to cope with drought and to support local economies. We have to get this stuff right. Labor notes that this government promised to build 100 dams but has built not one in six years, and the Morrison government has no plan for the country.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For decades, statutory authorities, government organisations and independent researchers have all debunked the scheme on scientific, engineering and financial grounds. Yet, despite this overwhelming rejection, the Bradfield scheme is revived every few years, only to be rejected once more. This grandiose pipedream to turn the rivers inland and cure the drought gets trotted out so often that the ABC has a standing Fact Check page debunking it. After examining the scheme and consulting with a range of experts, they rate the proposal as 'pie in the sky'. Drought conditions in my home state of Queensland are absolutely heartbreaking, with 66 per cent of the state drought declared. Much of the state is on fire, and lack of water is hampering firefighting efforts. But the answer is not a fanciful, massively-subsidised engineering project that won't work. We need to listen to the science. We need to stop mining companies monopolising water resources. And we need to get serious about addressing the climate crisis that is intensifying the drought and the fires.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave not granted.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 244 be agreed to.