Senator BROWN —My question is addressed to Senator Parer, the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy. The largest experiment on earth into integrated river catchment management is being overseen by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, which has a budget of $45 million per annum. I ask about the Hume Dam, the world's second biggest dam of that type when opened in the 1920s, which sits between the electorates of Farrer and Indi. It will require $70 million to upgrade the dam, including measures to stop the movement of the dam. This year, as part of the total contribution of $18 million to the Hume Dam remedial works program, the Commonwealth is paying $3.18 million. I ask: is it true, following a cabinet rebuff for alternative financing, that this money is being diverted from the Natural Heritage Trust fund, previously promised by the Prime Minister to be allocated to environmental spending?

Senator Robert Ray —Why don't you answer it, Robert?

Senator Hill —Because they don't ask me.

Senator PARER (Resources and Energy) —I am aware of the problems with the Hume Dam and the requirements to actually correct it because they were discussed some 12 months ago. With regard to the source of funding regarding the remedial work, I have no brief from the minister for primary industries, but I understand from Minister Hill—and you may like to direct your question to him—that it is coming out of the Murray-Darling 2001 program, which comes from the Natural Heritage Trust.

Senator BROWN —Exactly the point. Now we have had it confirmed that this $3 million is coming from the Natural Heritage Trust, I ask the minister: how can this government, which guaranteed that that money was allocated to spending on environmental works, spend it on capital works on the repair of a dam between the seats of Indi and Farrer in this coming financial year? How can it justify that?

Senator PARER (Resources and Energy) —The only response that I can give to the senator is—and I had suggested to him that I will refer some of the parts that I could not answer because I do not have a brief from the minister—that it actually comes from the program.