Thursday, 4 August 2022

Water supply

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:28): My question is to the Minister for Water. Minister, how much was spent in the last financial year on purchasing water from the AquaSure-owned desalination plant at Kilcunda?

Ms SHING (Eastern Victoria—Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:29): Thank you, Mr Davis, for your late-breaking interest in the security and efficiency of water delivery to people across the grid and to those homes, businesses and industries that rely upon water, including manufactured water, to meet their needs.

It is really important to say at the outset that without the desalination plant, without the manufactured water which has flowed from it for a considerable amount of time, notwithstanding the narrative you would like to advance that it is sitting inactive somehow in Wonthaggi and Kili, while our water storages today are at 88.1 per cent, for your understanding, Mr Davis, without desalination they would be at 63 per cent. That is despite the fact that we are in the middle of some significant rainfall events. We are in the middle of plentiful rainfall, and our groundwater and surface water levels are looking healthy and well. We have got lots of water and it is cheap across regional and rural Victoria, but without the desalination plant we would be in significant difficulty. Last year we did see higher than average rainfall, and that had an impact on the way in which water was ordered. But inflows, as we know, have been on average for the last 16 out of 20 years lower than average, and before desal we were using between 50 and 70 gigalitres a year more than what comes into the Melbourne system.

Mr Davis, you should actually be paying attention to these statistics and this information, because it does actually directly concern a growing population with growing needs over time in increasingly hostile climatic conditions with more volatility as part of weather events and a diminishing supply. Much as you might like to carp about how the AquaSure consortium has not been a significant and positive contributing factor to water availability and to natural resource management across the state, it is simply not true. Your plan—and I suspect I know where this might be heading—in fact is the same that you had—

Mr Davis: On a point of order, President, the minister is a new minister but has had plenty of time to put context. It was a very specific question. It sought a figure, a number, an amount—dollars and cents. It was a very simple question. Please answer.

The PRESIDENT: You know I cannot direct the minister.

Ms SHING: After so long in this chamber, even by osmosis, to coin a water turn of phrase, Mr Davis, you have not yet absorbed the standing orders. But what I will say is that this year’s 125-gigalitre desal order cost $77 million, but our bills will be stable for Melbourne’s households and are lower than Adelaide, Canberra, south-east Queensland, including Brisbane, and Perth and equal to Sydney. Thanks very much, Mr Davis; I hope you will stick around for a supplementary.

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:32): The minister finally got there; $77 million is the amount. She could have just said that straight up. I too can look on the website, as can everyone in this chamber, and see that today 88.1 per cent is the water capacity in our major dams for Melbourne—$77 million at 88.1 per cent capacity. I ask therefore: will you rule out any desal water order this financial year?

Ms SHING (Eastern Victoria—Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:33): Without desalination water, Mr Davis, we would be in a situation where we would run out in the coming years. Apparently Mr Davis is suddenly a climate change expert, suddenly a population growth and change expert. Next year’s order is 15 gig. What we do know from those opposite is that when they were in government they held on to $30 million in the budget without actually allocating it to relieve water pressures in places like Korumburra—a place you have probably never heard of, Mr Davis—on permanent 3a water restrictions. There was $30 million that secured water storage opportunities in Korumburra, Loch, Nyora and Poowong—$30 million attached to the grid now. Cape Paterson, Inverloch and Wonthaggi are all attached to the grid now through Lance Creek. You have got a lot to learn about water supply and security, Mr Davis. I hope you will brush up on that between now and your next question.