Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last month the Albanese government made a historic agreement with states and territories to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full, including 450 gigalitres of water for the environment. Can the minister please explain to the Senate how this plan will put the Murray-Darling, a vital river system, on a healthy and sustainable path for our kids and grandkids after nine long years of neglect?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Grogan, for the question. As a South Australian, Senator Grogan knows that the river Murray is truly South Australia's lifeblood. She has also campaigned on this issue for years and I thank her for it. Senator Grogan knows that a healthy Murray-Darling Basin is critical for the future security and prosperity of our country. It is often called the nation's food bowl. It supports farms, vineyards, livestock, and, critically, the drinking water that comes from the Murray flows to hundreds of thousands of homes. Our government, the Albanese Labor government, is working to—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are lying.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am unsurprised that there is an interjection from the National Party—those who have tried to scuttle the plan for a decade and that's why you interject now. You see, the Albanese Labor government is working to—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Watt, on a point of order?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe Senator McKenzie just accused Senator Wong of lying. She might want to withdraw that.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I didn't hear the comment.

Opposition senators interjecting—

The:

Senators on my right, I'm addressing a point of order. I didn't hear the interjection but I am going to invite Senator McKenzie to withdraw without reference to the comment if she made the comment. Thank you, Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, if it assists the chamber.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite had nearly a decade to deliver and what did they achieve? Two gigalitres out of 450. President, did you know, if you left it to the coalition, to the Liberals and the Nationals, it would take 2,000 years to deliver the plan? Those opposite have sabotaged every good-faith attempt to deliver the plan. The truth is that the National Party never wanted the plan and the Liberals were too spineless to stand up to them. The only party which is prepared to do the work to get the Murray-Darling Basin Plan back on track is the Labor Party.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's the only party prepared to deliver, and we've struck a new deal with New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and the ACT to deliver the plan in full. We've introduced legislation to help do this. It's a plan that delivers more water for the environment, more certainty for farmers and industry, more protection for native plants and animals and a better future for Australia's most important river system. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, your first supplementary?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you to Minister Wong for her dedication on the Murray-Darling for so many years in the face of such opposition. Recently the Murray-Darling—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie, I've called you about five times in a row. Senator McKenzie, I am calling for order. You are being disrespectful and disorderly. Senator Grogan, please continue your question.

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently the Murray-Darling Basin Authority released a report that revealed just how much basin communities were let down by the previous government. Can the minister please inform the Senate how this place now has the power to support a better future for Australians and the environment?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If those in this chamber need a reminder of why this plan is necessary, let's go back to one of the leaders during the millennium drought, who said: 'The old way of managing the basin has reached its use-by date. We need to confront head on and in a comprehensive way the overallocation of water in the Murray-Darling.' That was John Howard. So there are some on that side who do understand that the National Party position on this, which is now determining Mr Dutton's position, is an irrational position.

I saw that the member for Sturt told the Australian today that the 450 gigs of environmental water should be delivered, including through voluntary water purchase. Senator McLachlan also said it was 'imperative that we prioritise the welfare of our natural world' by securing this water. These are good comments. I am surprised at the silence from senior South Australian Liberals Senator Birmingham and Senator Ruston on the importance of the 450 gigs to their state.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister Wong, your time for answering has expired. I remind you to refer to former prime ministers by their correct title. Order! Senator Wong and Senator Canavan, order! Senator Grogan, your second supplementary?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that response, Minister. Given how critically important the delivery of the 450 gigalitres of water is, can the minister please explain to the Senate if there are any people trying to stand in the way of this plan being implemented? We may have had a few hints with the interjections.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The fact is that we know there is one party that has been consistent in its opposition to improving the health of the Murray-Darling Basin for over a decade and that is the National Party. The Nationals have never shown anything but contempt for the plan.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the impact on farmers?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, in South Australia we remember Barnaby Joyce telling us—Mr Joyce telling us—to move where the water is. That's what he told people from Adelaide, from South Australia: move where the water is. He said that there wasn't a hope in Hades that we would get the water that was promised. That's what he said. But the problem for South Australians is not just that Mr Joyce and the National Party run water policy for Mr Dutton; it's that the South Australian Liberal Party are so spineless in response. Instead of standing up for their constituents, instead of standing up for South Australia, what we see— (Time expired)