‘SA doesn’t need fresh water’: Nationals MP makes bizarre claims after Barnaby Joyce’s return sparks war on Murray-Darling Basin plan

A Nationals MP has made bizarre claims about “The Science” on the second day of the party’s doomed attempt to destroy the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

A Nationals MP has tried to revive a bid to blow up the Murray-Darling Basin Plan – despite it being knocked back in the Senate last night.

Nationals MP Damian Drum tried to move the same amendments to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in the House of Representatives on Thursday, creating bizarre scenes as Liberal minister Peter Dutton tried to slap down the move.

Mr Drum’s arguments for trying to scrap the requirement to recover 450GL of water for the environment were also circulated to MPs, including one which said: “The Science no longer supports SA needing fresh water.”

The claim was immediately described as “whacky”, “ridiculous”, and “voodoo science” by South Australian politicians from across the political divide.

Other talking points on Mr Drum’s sheet were: “Rising sea levels will mean the SA Lower Lakes will not need environmental water” and “Upstream environments ... are being seriously damaged trying to deliver large volumes of water to SA.”

Nationals MP Damian Drum has circulated amendments on Basin Plan. One of his talking points is ‘The Science no longer supports SA needing fresh water’[e-mail]/XyE52FVcb6

— Claire Bickers (@claire_bickers) June 24, 2021

In other odd scenes, Mr Dutton told Parliament that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce would not be in Question Time because he was a close contact of a Covid-19 case.

Moments later, Mr Joyce appeared in Question Time.

Mr Joyce later explained: “Shortly before Question Time, I was alerted that I may have been in contact with a person who was a close contact with a case.”

“I immediately sought further information and advice from deputy chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd. As I am not a close contact, I’m now able to attend the chamber.”

Mr Drum was ultimately prevented from moving the Nationals amendments this morning, despite Labor seeking to let him speak and the Liberal Party trying to block the move.

SA Water Minister David Speirs said: “This is just another ridiculous stunt in Canberra from the National Party which does nothing to deliver for the river.”

“By continuing to bandy around voodoo science they are not only doing South Australia a disservice but communities across the Basin that rely on this vital resource.”

Mr Drum’s talking points about ‘the Science’ were described by SA Labor senator Penny Wong as “ridiculous” and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young as “whacky”.

SA Labor’s federal team held a joint press conference in Parliament House today to declare Mr Morrison should strip the Nationals of the water portfolio.

“If Mr Morrison continues to allow the Nationals to run water policy, then he’s walked away from South Australia. It’s a betrayal of SA,” Senator Wong said.

Senator Hanson-Young said Mr Morrison “needs to stop negotiating with these water terrorists”.

If Mr Drum’s amendments had succeeded, it would have put Mr Joyce and Water Minister Keith Pitt, a fellow National, in the awkward position of either voting against their own party or voting against government policy, which would have required them to resign from cabinet.

Barnaby Joyce with Damian Drum during Question Time on Tuesday. Picture: Martin Ollman

EARLIER

A push by Nationals senators to dramatically change the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was quashed in the Senate on Wednesday night.

The move was described earlier as an attempt to launch “a new war on South Australia” and the crucial river system.

Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie announced the surprise move on Wednesday morning – the same day SA politicians from across the political divide raised concerns about Barnaby Joyce’s return as Deputy Prime Minister.

The Nationals’ proposed amendments to the Water Act and the Basin Plan Act prompted an immediate call on Wednesday for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to strip the party of the water portfolio in a ministerial reshuffle, likely to be unveiled on Friday.

The amendments, rejected by the Senate after 7pm SA time, would have removed the requirement to deliver 450GL of water for the environment and prevented any further water being recovered after the Basin Plan ends in 2024.

It would also have ended water buybacks through legislation and enabled new offset projects.

In a fiery speech, Labor senator Penny Wong blasted the Nationals for using the river to play “power politics with the Liberal Party”.

“Guess who loses out – South Australia,” Senator Wong said.

She declared the Nationals move was a test for Scott Morrison and SA Premier Steven Marshall.

Earlier on Wednesday, SA’s federal politicians from all parties put on a united front to voice their opposition to the Nationals push.

State Water Minister David Speirs spoke to Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt Wednesday morning about the Nationals move.

“I have spoken with Minister Pitt today to express my disappointment in this stunt by the National Party,” Mr Speirs told The Advertiser.

“The Marshall Liberal Government categorically rejects the amendments put forward in the Senate.

“We will continue to push all Basin jurisdictions to deliver what’s already been agreed for the good of the river and the communities which rely on it.”

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the Nationals were trying to launch “a new war on South Australia” and the Basin Plan, while SA independent senator Rex Patrick demanded Mr Morrison strip the Nationals of the water portfolio.

“Not even a week in the job and Barnaby’s National Party are already trying to blow up the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and decimate the South Australian communities reliant on the River,” Senator Patrick said.

“The Prime Minister must show some leadership and strip the Nationals of the water portfolio before our river is ruined forever.”

Senator Penny Wong condemns the National Party’s move to change the Murray Darling Basin Plan. Picture: Martin Ollman

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie shouting back as Labor Senator Penny Wong speaks in the Senate. Picture: Martin Ollman

Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie said Mr Morrison needed to confirm the Basin Plan would be delivered in full and on time, just as former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had “when Barnaby Joyce tried to do this last time”.

“This is really concerning,” Ms Sharkie said. “We just can’t allow them to dismantle the plan.”

Conservation SA chief executive Craig Wilkins said the Nationals proposal was “outrageous” and there would be no Basin Plan left if the amendments passed.

The Nationals are trying to use a bill to establish a new Inspector-General of Water Compliance role, which is before the Senate on Wednesday, to amend the Water Act and Basin Plan.

Mr Joyce backed the Nationals push when asked about it in Question Time. 

He briefly acknowledged the plan contained a section on the 450GL, but said he understood “completely” river communities’ concerns about their jobs.

“We have an obligation to these people as well, to make sure that they are not forgotten in Canberra,” he said, adding a regional job was “just as important” as the jobs in Adelaide.

“If you’re asking me why are the Nationals in the Senate making sure that these people understand that we hear them and respect their views, that is because that is what the Nationals’ job is,” Mr Joyce said. 

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, leader of the government in the Senate and a cabinet minister from SA, confirmed in Question Time the Government would be voting against the National Party’s proposed amendments to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

“The government stands resolute in its support for the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, as we have said, in full and on time,” he said.

Barnaby Joyce being sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister on Tuesday at Government House, Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

EARLIER

State and Federal MPs from across the political divide are worried about what Barnaby Joyce’s return as Deputy Prime Minister means for South Australia and the River Murray.

Mr Joyce’s return has sparked concerns the National Party could be emboldened to derail the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering 450 gigalitres of water for the health of the River Murray.

Mr Joyce’s past comments have reignited the concerns, including a 2016 letter he wrote to SA’s then-water minister Ian Hunter warning it was not possible to deliver the 450GL without hurting other river communities.

Labor Senator Penny Wong said Mr Joyce was “no friend of South Australia” and had never believed in the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

“South Australians will never forget that when he was last Leader of the Nationals, Barnaby Joyce said SA didn’t have a ‘hope in Hades’ of getting the water secured under the plan, and that he told South Australians to move to where the water was,” Senator Wong said.

State Water Minister David Speirs said: “There has been more action to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan over recent months than ever before and I would be extremely disappointed if a change in leadership for the Nationals saw a change of approach.”

“The time for talk is over and we will continue to push all Basin jurisdictions to get on with delivering what’s already been agreed,” Mr Speirs said.

Labor senator Penny Wong expressed concerns at Mr Joyce’s return. Picture: Martin Ollman

State Opposition water spokeswoman Susan Close echoed concerns Mr Joyce’s return could put the 450GL even further at risk.

She noted only 2GL had been delivered so far, and that while a project for nearly 16GL was on the cards, it was a “long way” from 450GL being delivered by 2024.

Concerns about the Nationals’ stance mounted on Monday when Nationals senators split from their Liberal colleagues to vote against a Labor motion that backed delivering the Basin Plan “in full and on time”.

While the motion won’t trigger any action, Independent SA senator Rex Patrick said Mr Joyce’s return was “bad news for SA and the Murray-Darling”.

“It is telling that the Nationals voted against the plan in the Senate on the day he became leader,” Senator Patrick said.

“Barnaby Joyce has always supported irrigators taking more upstream water and has publicly said the 450GL owed to SA can never be delivered.”

He urged Scott Morrison to strip the National’s of the water portfolio in a ministerial reshuffle triggered by the leadership spill.

Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie recalled the Nick Xenophon Team had threatened in 2016 to be a roadblock in the Senate after Mr Joyce told SA it wasn’t possible to deliver the 450GL.

It prompted then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to write to NXT confirming the Coalition’s support for the Basin Plan.

Ms Sharkie said “a lot of those old fears are now renewed”, particularly when the trajectory for the Basin Plan was already not looking good.

Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt, a member of the National Party, told The Advertiser the Coalition Government “remains committed” to the Basin Plan.

“There is still three years to go until 2024, and there is still around $4 billion available to support projects to help meet the Basin Plan targets,” he said.

“This is $4 billion that should be out in communities, improving water infrastructure and creating jobs.

“It is time to get on with business and deliver for regional communities, and I urge Basin states to work with us on what is possible and what can be delivered.”

Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie on Monday said Labor “has forgotten the 450GL was never guaranteed” and “the science is now pointing to a complete rethink of how we manage the Lower Lakes in South Australia”.