Legislative Council

GREENS MOTION: Water Action Coalition Motion opposed by Libs & Labor

December 3rd, 2009

On December 3rd, Mark called for a vote on his motion noting the formation of the Water Action Coalition, and calling for an urgent inquiry into water management in South Australia.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: I thank all honourable members for their contributions. I am disappointed, but not surprised, that government members oppose a public inquiry into water. They believe they are doing enough and they believe they have a plan. The Water Action Coalition certainly does not agree, and neither do I.

I understand that the Liberals are sympathetic but, again, they are not supporting a public inquiry. I do not accept that such an inquiry will slow down the progress of reform. I think that for genuine reform to succeed it must engage the community, hence the call for a public inquiry.

I thank the Hon. David Winderlich and the Hon. Rob Brokenshire for their support for the motion. All members would have received from the Water Action Coalition its suggested terms of reference for this inquiry. That is how seriously this group is taking it. I am not going to read the seven pages of the terms of reference, but the draft terms set out the purpose of the inquiry, as follows:

…to determine the systemic causes of the environmental, social and economic damage and of other problems resulting from current water policies and management processes in South Australia and to determine the changes that need to be made by all levels of government, including by their departments and corporations, to safeguard the public's interest in water as the common property of all Australians, and the utility and amenity of all waterways (freshwater and marine) under the 'public trust doctrine'.

I think we owe a debt of gratitude to the Water Action Coalition. In moving the motion, I named the various groups and individuals who were involved. I will not do that again, but I want to thank them for the way they have pursued this call. They have not just put up an idea and then walked away; they have gone to a great deal of trouble to draft terms of reference that are sensible. Their terms of reference cover governance arrangements; the issue of water privatisation; the ecological health of our waterways (fresh and salt); the way we use water; the implications of climate change and population growth on our water resources; water conservation measures; and a range of other important initiatives, some of which may have been dealt with in the SA Water select committee, but only a very small number of them. The vast majority of these matters need further inquiry.

I am appreciative of the dedication of the Water Action Coalition members who, as members would have noted, were in the gallery most of yesterday waiting for this matter to come to a vote. Representatives are here today; that is how seriously the community takes this issue.

The government has indicated that it will not divide on this motion, given that this is the last sitting day of the year. I suspect that this motion may pass on the voices but, if it does not, I will certainly be dividing, because I think the people of South Australia have a right to know where their elected representatives stand on this most important issue.

The council divided on the motion:

AYES (6)
Bressington, A. (Ind)
Brokenshire, R.L. (Family First)
Darley, J.A. (Ind)
Hood, D.G.E. (Family First)
Parnell, M. (Greens)
Winderlich, D.N. (Ind)


NOES (12)
Dawkins, J.S.L. (Liberal)
Finnigan, B.V. (ALP)
Holloway, P. (ALP)
Hunter, I.K. (ALP)
Lawson, R.D. (Liberal)
Lensink, J.M.A. (Liberal)
Lucas, R.I. (Liberal)
Ridgway, D.W. (Liberal)
Schaefer, C.V. (Liberal)
Wade, S.G. (Liberal)
Wortley, R.P. (ALP)
Zollo, C. (ALP)

Majority of 6 for the noes. Motion thus negatived and so was defeated.

For more information see Mark's speech and motion on 28th October 2009

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