Senator BIRMINGHAM (2:35 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to Mr Rudd’s 2007 water election policy that claimed he would ‘accelerate investment in all water saving infrastructure’ and had re-engineering of Menindee Lakes at the top of the list. Why, three years after the release of the policy, has not even a sod of soil been turned on the re-engineering of Menindee Lakes?

Senator WONG (Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water) —I welcome the question from Senator Birmingham because it gives me an opportunity to remind him yet again of the lack of action under his government and of the furphy that he is seeking to put to the South Australian people.

The PRESIDENT —I draw your attention to the question, Senator Wong.

Senator WONG —He says to them, ‘I can deliver this great referendum that is going to help you out,’ but we know that all his referendum will do is to give more power to the National Party and the upstream Liberals.

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Wong, you have one minute and 27 seconds remaining to address the question.

Senator WONG —The fact is that there have been a range of studies undertaken already into Menindee. I look forward to those reports being finalised. I would make the point that under John Howard nothing was done in relation to Menindee in over 12 years in government, so for Senator Birmingham to come in here and say ‘You haven’t done anything’ really smacks of enormous hypocrisy, particularly at a time when we know that members of the National Party are advocating for less water to go down the river.

Senator Joyce interjecting—

Senator WONG —Please, Senator Joyce, I would invite you to share your views with the Senate, because we know that Senator Joyce and Senator Williams—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Debate across the chamber is disorderly. Senator Wong, you should address your comments to the chair.

Senator WONG —Through you, Mr President, the reality is that on Menindee Lakes nothing was done under the former government. We have to deal with a number of issues in Menindee, including safeguarding Broken Hill’s water supply. We have funded a range of measures—planning measures and research measures—in relation to the aquifer and the government remains committed, if it is possible, to ensure Broken Hill’s—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Both sides, it is very difficult for me to hear the answer when there is chatter going on across the chamber.

Senator WONG —The government remains committed to thoroughly investigating what needs to be done before we construct— (Time expired)

Senator BIRMINGHAM —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Why did the now Prime Minister commit to action if all you are now committing to, Minister, is investigating action? With the New South Wales Office of Water having confirmed that all four lakes in the Menindee system are said to be filled with at least 1,100 billion litres of water, how much of this trillion-plus litres will be unnecessarily wasted through seepage or evaporation thanks to the Prime Minister’s failure to ‘accelerate investment’?

Senator WONG (Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water) —I would remind the senator that we have in fact committed $400 million to Menindee Lakes. My recollection is that some $38 million has been committed to particular projects for investigating this issue. I want to make a point about what the senator is suggesting. Senator Joyce and senators from New South Wales should hear this. If Senator Birmingham, as he outlined in his letter to me, is suggesting that no water be held at Menindee, what he is actually suggesting is that we do not reserve critical human needs—that New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian irrigators face the prospect of zero allocations next year. Is that the coalition’s policy? If it is, I suggest you had better chat to your colleagues, Senator Birmingham.

Senator Birmingham —Mr President, I rise on a point of order on the matter of relevance. The minister was asked very specifically about how much water will be lost to wastage through the lack of action on investing in infrastructure. She was not asked about flows in; she was asked about lack of action on investing in infrastructure and, specifically, how much water will be wasted.

The PRESIDENT —I believe the minister is answering the question. The minister has 14 seconds remaining.

Senator WONG —It is quite clear from his question that Senator Birmingham is suggesting that it is inappropriate to store water at Menindee Lakes. He might want to talk to some of his colleagues, because what that means is no allocation for irrigators in the coming year and no capacity to reserve for critical human needs for Adelaide. (Time expired)

Senator Forshaw interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Forshaw, we can do without the comment across the chamber.

Senator BIRMINGHAM —Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. With all four of the Menindee Lakes now said to be filled with at least 1,100 billion litres of water, will this delay any of the planned infrastructure works even further, leading to even greater water losses because of the failure to progress these infrastructure works over the last three years?

Senator WONG (Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water) —We have a $400 million commitment. I do not know how many more dollars than your commitment that is, Senator Birmingham—I would have to go back and check—but it is probably about $400 million. I just remind the senator that, if he wishes to continue with this ‘don’t fill Menindee Lakes’ argument, perhaps he should make sure he has the support of his party room. Honestly, Senator Birmingham is turning into the Greg Hunt of the Senate: putting forward things that simply do not have the support of his party room, not talking to his colleagues from other states and pretending he can deliver when he cannot. Senator, you had better find yourself a different mentor.