Senate debates

Thursday, 18 March 2021

Motions

Murray-Darling Basin

5:02 pm

Photo of Jonathon DuniamJonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Birmingham and pursuant to contingent notice, I move:

That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent motion No. 1080 being moved immediately and determined without amendment or debate.

Question agreed to.

5:03 pm

Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

I would like it recorded that Labor is opposed to motion No. 1080.

Photo of Jonathon DuniamJonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | | Hansard source

I move general business notice of motion No. 1080:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin produce $24 billion worth of food and fibre per year, and

(ii) 2,029 gigalitres of water has been recovered from the consumptive pool under the Basin Plan; this represents a significant proportion of the consumptive water available in the Basin and has a major impact on agricultural productivity;

(b) congratulates:

(i) the Morrison-McCormack Government on the decision to close the inefficient Water Efficiency Program and pivot to off-farm water recovery, spurring an infrastructure boom across the Basin, and

(ii) the Morrison-McCormack Government on listening to communities and putting actions in place to reduce impacts from buy backs; and

(c) calls for the Minister to work with states to prioritise off-farm efficiency projects that invest in regional communities.

Question agreed to.

Photo of Larissa WatersLarissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I ask that the Greens' opposition to general business notice of motion No. 1080 be recorded.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

The Greens' opposition to that motion is recorded.

Photo of Malcolm RobertsMalcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | | Hansard source

by leave—I table a short statement with regard to motion No. 1080.

Photo of Rex PatrickRex Patrick (SA, Independent) Share this | | Hansard source

I ask that my opposition to general business notice of motion No. 1080 be recorded.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

It is noted.