❓ Opposition questions Minister about water resource management in light of Auditor General's report highlighting unsustainable water use and potential under-resourcing of the Water and Rivers Commission. Minister defends the government's record, citing increased funding and blaming the previous government for unfunded legislative changes.
AnsweredQoN 1132Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to her response to a recent question about the functioning of the Water and Rivers Commission, in which she stated that she was absolutely confident that all her departments were appropriately and properly going about their responsibilities in a sustainable manner. I further refer to the “Second Public Sector Performance Report 2003” tabled in Parliament today. (1) Does the minister wish to revise her answer given the finding of the Auditor General that licensed water use in parts of 13 of the State’s 44 ground water management areas exceeds the sustainable limit? (2) In the light of the Auditor General’s report, does the minister concede that the commission is not adequately resourced to manage water resources in this State, particularly given the increased workload for the department as a result of amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act and decreases in available funding as a result of a decline in funding in real terms for core water resource management operations? (3) Will the minister significantly increase funding to the Water and Rivers Commission to allow it to perform its critical role in managing the State’s water resources? Dr J.M. EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
(1) Does the minister wish to revise her answer given the finding of the Auditor General that licensed water use in parts of 13 of the State’s 44 ground water management areas exceeds the sustainable limit? (2) In the light of the Auditor General’s report, does the minister concede that the commission is not adequately resourced to manage water resources in this State, particularly given the increased workload for the department as a result of amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act and decreases in available funding as a result of a decline in funding in real terms for core water resource management operations? (3) Will the minister significantly increase funding to the Water and Rivers Commission to allow it to perform its critical role in managing the State’s water resources? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
(2) In the light of the Auditor General’s report, does the minister concede that the commission is not adequately resourced to manage water resources in this State, particularly given the increased workload for the department as a result of amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act and decreases in available funding as a result of a decline in funding in real terms for core water resource management operations? (3) Will the minister significantly increase funding to the Water and Rivers Commission to allow it to perform its critical role in managing the State’s water resources? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
(3) Will the minister significantly increase funding to the Water and Rivers Commission to allow it to perform its critical role in managing the State’s water resources? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
(1) Does the minister wish to revise her answer given the finding of the Auditor General that licensed water use in parts of 13 of the State’s 44 ground water management areas exceeds the sustainable limit? (2) In the light of the Auditor General’s report, does the minister concede that the commission is not adequately resourced to manage water resources in this State, particularly given the increased workload for the department as a result of amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act and decreases in available funding as a result of a decline in funding in real terms for core water resource management operations? (3) Will the minister significantly increase funding to the Water and Rivers Commission to allow it to perform its critical role in managing the State’s water resources? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
(2) In the light of the Auditor General’s report, does the minister concede that the commission is not adequately resourced to manage water resources in this State, particularly given the increased workload for the department as a result of amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act and decreases in available funding as a result of a decline in funding in real terms for core water resource management operations? (3) Will the minister significantly increase funding to the Water and Rivers Commission to allow it to perform its critical role in managing the State’s water resources? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
(3) Will the minister significantly increase funding to the Water and Rivers Commission to allow it to perform its critical role in managing the State’s water resources? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. The first thing to point out about the Auditor General’s report is that in fact it identifies that the Water and Rivers Commission has received an increase in funding over the period it looked at. If the member has not seen that, he needs to look at the fine print. Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Mr B.K. Masters: The core funding? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: No, the member needs to look at the fine print because it actually says that the Water and Rivers Commission budget has gone up from $43.5 million in 1998-99 to $51 million in 2003-04. The members needs to make sure that he reads the whole report in its context. The other point I make is that this report refers to a five-year period, from 1998 to 2003. I am delighted that the member raised the issue of the amendments to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act. Do any of the new members remember those? No. It is funny about that, because they were not here during the time of the previous Government. The previous Government - Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Mr B.K. Masters: Our legislation; your budget. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: And no funding! This epitomises the Opposition - their commitment; our budget. If only I had that crystal ball and read the future! The previous Government made major amendments to the legislation in 2000. The amendments came into effect in January 2001, and the Government lost the election in the following month. None of the commitments in the legislation was funded. This Government has put extra money into the Water and Rivers Commission. It has looked at an issue that is dear to all our hearts; that is, salinity. It has also looked at a matter that is dear to the hearts of many members opposite; that is, farm water grants. What the Government now needs to do, and which it has been doing since the review of this area by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, is look at the issue of water resource allocation. This area does need more funding. I am working on that. I hope to have more funding. I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
I welcome this report by the Auditor General. It is certainly very helpful to me. It clarifies some of the issues identified in April by Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins. I will study this report in great detail. I look forward to being able to implement some of those changes and make sure that we do our job in an even better manner.
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