Wednesday, 8 February 2023

Maribyrnong River flood review

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:17): (20) My question is to the Minister for Water. Minister, yesterday Mr Nick Wimbush stood down as chair of the Maribyrnong River flood review, and I ask: on what date were you first aware that Mr Wimbush was appointed to this role?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:18): Thank you, Mr Davis, for that question, because it does provide me with an opportunity not just to talk about Melbourne Water’s review of the floods as they occurred last year but also to talk about the floods themselves, and that is I think a subject which everybody here should be very interested in hearing more about.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister has been speaking for about 20 seconds, and she should be heard in silence.

Harriet SHING: When Melbourne Water announced that it was undertaking a review, the terms of reference were discussed broadly around the way in which the flood event occurred and the extent to which various decisions contributed to its effects. The terms of reference of that review are available on the Melbourne Water website. There have been a number of in-person and online information sessions that have been conducted, and I would make the point here in this place – and I would hope that everyone around this chamber would echo these points in their communities – that there is an opportunity for people who have been affected by these floods to share their experiences and their perspectives by way of a submission to this review, I think between now and the middle of March. Again, this is something which I think is an important opportunity for people to share with communities around the terms of reference and the way in which they will be considered. I am very happy, Mr Davis, to find out the date upon which I was advised that Mr Wimbush was heading the inquiry and to provide that to you.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:19): Minister, on 15 December 2022 Melbourne Water announced Mr Wimbush as chair of this review. Were you aware of this appointment prior to it being publicly announced?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:20): Thank you, Mr Davis, for that supplementary question. As you quite rightly point out, there was an appointment on 15 December, and as I have indicated in my substantive answer, I am very happy to find out the information that you have asked about and to come back to you. It is quite literally a –

Members interjecting.

Harriet SHING: I am very happy to provide that information to you, Mr Davis, which I would hope provides you with the detail that you are after.