Senator JOYCE (Leader of the Nationals in the Senate) (2:13 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Minister Wong. Why has the second tender process for water entitlement purchases in the northern Murray-Darling Basin been opened prior to the finalisation of the first water entitlement purchase tenders?

Senator WONG (Minister for Climate Change and Water) —It is the case that the government is pursuing a range of tenders both in the northern and southern basin and the timing of those is determined in terms of administrative efficiency. The fact is—and I understand Senator Joyce’s position on this; he has a concern about water purchase—we were elected with a very clear position in relation to this and, I have to say—

Senator Abetz —I think the water was a bit muddy.

Senator WONG —a very clear position on water purchase. I will take Senator Abetz’s interjection because what he is actually criticising is Mr Turnbull’s policy, which, of course, is not unusual for Senator Abetz. He is actually criticising the concept of water purchase. It was Mr Turnbull who put forward a plan—and I acknowledge this—that included $3.1 billion for water purchase. We are implementing that plan because, of course, Mr Turnbull was unable to deliver on it. We will continue to purchase water. The reason for that is that unlike those—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! The time for debate across the chamber is at the end of question time, not during question time. I cannot hear the answer that Senator Wong is giving; I am entitled to hear it as much as anyone else in the chamber. Senator Wong, you have 37 seconds left.

Senator WONG —The reason the government is going to continue to invest in irrigation efficiencies and in infrastructure on and off farm and to purchase water is that, unlike those opposite, we recognise—

Senator Joyce —Mr President, I raise a point of order going to relevance. It was a specific question. Why have you opened the second tender before finalising the first tender? That is the question that we want answered.

The PRESIDENT —You have 17 seconds in which to answer the question, Senator Wong. I draw your attention to the question.

Senator WONG —As I was saying, it is because we recognise that we have to address the issues of drought, overallocation and climate change, which is the problem we face particularly in the southern part of the basin. In relation to the issue, I assume from Senator Joyce’s question— (Time expired)

Senator JOYCE —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. During that entire answer we never got an answer. How much water was tendered from the Lower Balonne and how much of that does the government intend to purchase, if any?

Senator WONG (Minister for Climate Change and Water) —I was saying that we have closed one tender and reopened another. I assume from the question about finalisation that the good senator refers to the actual finalisation of contracts and transfer arrangements. He asked these questions in estimates and I think he will recall that that can often take some time. My view was that we needed to progress the purchases in both the northern and the southern basin. It is not necessary to await all of the contracts being finalised and all of the trades being registered. As the good senator knows, that can take some time. In fact, our experience of the initial purchase round held last year—the $50 million—was that it did—

Senator Nash —Thirty-seven million.

Senator WONG —That is precisely the point—$50 million was allocated. We pursued in excess of that, from memory— (Time expired)

Senator JOYCE —Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I admit the minister started answering the first question during the second answer. Now maybe we will get an answer to the first supplementary during the further supplementary. I still want to know how much water they intend to buy from the Lower Balonne. My further supplementary question is this: given the government’s position on the Lower Balonne, what is the target amount of water to be purchased?

Senator WONG (Minister for Climate Change and Water) —We have not identified a target for that catchment or any other. There are some environmental groups who have suggested that. There are some communities who have suggested that. That is a matter the government will consider. In relation to the finalisation of purchases, we will release that information, Senator Joyce, when that information is available. As yet the purchases from that tender round, as I understand it—I will check—have not been finalised.