Thursday, 18 April 2024

Water policy

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (11:33): (486) My question today is for the Minister for Water. We all saw the media last week with the Commonwealth saying that Victoria has compromised and signed up to an amended agreement on the Murray–Darling Basin plan in order to get funding for work to continue on the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project. Minister, why has the Commonwealth changed its tune and what did you give up for this funding?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (11:34): Thanks, Mrs Tyrrell, for that question and for your interest in the Murray–Darling Basin and all of the contributions that it makes to Australia’s food bowl, to export opportunities, to jobs and to communities. Victoria has a very longstanding commitment to the communities in the Victorian part of the basin. We are Australia’s food bowl. We know that 75 per cent of Australia’s grapes and wine, around 50 per cent of fruit and around 30 per cent of dairy is produced in the basin, and we also know that it is home to thousands of jobs which rely upon the best use, the best efficiencies and the best return on investment for environmental outcomes and for food producers.

Victoria remains opposed to buybacks. Our position in this regard has not changed. It will not change. We know that the impact of buybacks continues to be felt across communities in this part of the state. We know from previous experience – bitter experience, lived experience – when 550 gigalitres of water was purchased to ensure that we could meet the requirements and the commitments under the 2018 plan that thousands of jobs were lost. We know that where there is 100 gigalitres taken out of any system we lose about $140 million in production.

We also know that the Commonwealth has taken far too long to recognise the value of the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project, and indeed it would appear to some – there was extensive commentary that asserted that the Commonwealth was withholding funding from the VMFRP for purely political reasons – that this was a knee-locked opposition to projects that would deliver around 60 gigalitres of water in environmental returns to some of the most precious flood plain environments across Victoria. These 14,000 hectares, including those that cover Ramsar-listed wetlands, are home to black box, to migratory birds, to fish, to reptiles and indeed to some of the most important flood plains that we have across Australia, and it is really wonderful to see that the Commonwealth has finally come to the table to agree to fund these important projects. It is in everybody’s interests, particularly Victorian environmental interests, that where we have a Murray–Darling Basin plan it delivers for all environments and not simply for one part of the basin.

To your question, Mrs Tyrrell: what did Victoria give up in order to sustain and to guarantee funding for these projects? The answer is nothing. We were determined to continue with our position in opposition to buybacks and to continue to negotiate for better outcomes for Victorian communities and environments. That is exactly what we have done, and it is really wonderful that at last the Commonwealth has recognised the value of these projects.

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (11:37): I thank the minister for her reply. How will the communities I represent benefit from delivery of the VMFRP?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (11:37): Thanks, Mrs Tyrrell, and thank you for your interest in and advocacy for your communities. The VMFRP will reduce the quantum of water that needs to be bought back by around 70 gigalitres. This is of vital importance. But we also know that where we invest in environmental projects that supply water to our flood plains much less water is required, through a series of pumps and regulators – established technology and plant – and that we can in fact get those long-term outcomes that we know everybody benefits from where we have healthy environments, we have healthy land, we have good, sustainable practices in primary production and we sustain communities and jobs that proudly call this part of the world home.

Again, I have been very, very clear that we oppose buybacks. I have been very clear that in applying the terms of the federal legislation we will make sure that the Commonwealth must have regard to socio-economic impact, as was set out in the amendments that formed part of the passage of this legislation, and indeed the Commonwealth will be held to account to those particular responsibilities.