Water policy
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (14:34): (412) My further question is to the Minister for Water. Minister, the Thomson Reservoir is Melbourne’s biggest and most important water source, and I refer to Melbourne Water’s partnership agreement with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, which will, according to the agreement, establish cultural and operational objectives for the Thomson River, including the reservoir and catchment area. The agreement specifically states that Melbourne Water will start discussions on water leaving Gunaikurnai country. In fact the agreement specifically identifies water taken off Gunaikurnai country. In that context I ask the minister: will you provide an ironclad assurance to the house and to Melbourne Water consumers that no restrictions whatsoever will be placed on the transfer of water from the Thomson Reservoir to Melbourne under any circumstances by this agreement?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (14:35): Firstly, Mr Davis, it is a little telling that you cannot even pronounce the names of the First Nations groups who are part of this longstanding partnership and engagement. The Gippsland land and waters Aboriginal corporation includes Gunaikurnai representatives, Mr Davis, and Daniel Miller and others from GLaWAC have worked incredibly hard to forge a partnership grounded in mutual respect and in an understanding of the innate connection between the oldest continuous culture on earth and country, which includes water. Mr Davis, whenever you go along, should you wish to go along to any Gunaikurnai events or indeed to have any conversations or discussions with members of Gunaikurnai communities, you will perhaps understand that in developing frameworks for partnerships between entities such as Melbourne Water and First Nations organisations, First Nations communities and families within those communities, the discussion around self-determination and around partnership is something which goes beyond perhaps the quick gotcha moment that your question suggests.
Mr Davis, when I look to how best to assist you in understanding the way in which this works, I would direct you to Water Is Life, a road map for traditional owner access to water. This is an agreement for the next 50 years, a framework within which we can have a good understanding, good discussions and respectful, good-faith engagement on the way in which traditional owner access to water occurs. When Melbourne Water or indeed any other entity within the remit that we are talking about, the state of Victoria, engages with First Nations communities, it is with a view to understanding how we can have a collaborative and shared understanding about access to water and about how different needs, histories, cultures and priorities can be met.
Mr Davis, the question presupposes an interruption of supply occasioned by, supported by or facilitated by First Nations engagement and indeed some form of contractual obligation. That is a nasty line to run. That is a nasty assertion to be making, that you would suggest that First Nations communities are in fact a reason for any future issue – even a scintilla of doubt about the security of water supply to the Melbourne grid. Shame on you, Mr Davis. This is in fact not about creating any doubt. It is about a shared pathway. It would do you well to walk that pathway – (Time expired)
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (14:38): This is shameful obfuscation we have got over here, where the minister just cannot plain admit that this does provide some veto or control power over water coming from the Thomson into Melbourne. That is the truth of the matter. The minister does not want to face it, and Melbourne people are entitled to know the truth and hear honest answers from this outrageous minister. I therefore ask: under the agreement, the Gunaikurnai land and waters corporation will have a formal management role over the Thomson Reservoir and water being moved off country. Minister, will you explain to the house how the formal co-development agreement will operate to protect the water supply of Melbourne?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (14:39): Mr Davis, again, I have pointed you to Water Is Life. I would perhaps direct you – it might be helpful if you are inclined to even pick it up and crack the spine of it – to look at the water plan and to look at the way in which the Gippsland sustainable water strategy, the work around a long-term multidecade process to make sure that water security is delivered and that we have a plan for adaptation and for resilience as our climates become drier, is informed by and enhanced by partnerships with First Nations organisations. It speaks volumes, Mr Davis, to your abject lack of respect for the connection that First Nations communities have to water that you would seek to create a narrative that says that through some nasty conspiracy First Nations people are going to impose a veto over Melburnians’ access to water. You are an absolute disgrace, Mr Davis.
David Davis: I move that the minister’s failure to guarantee the supply of water to Melbourne be taken into account on the next day of meeting.
The PRESIDENT: I am actually not going to put that question. You would have to put that question by leave, because the only question you can put at this point is that the chamber takes note of the minister’s answer.
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (14:41): I move:
That the chamber takes note of the minister’s answer.
Motion agreed to.