Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Health, Minister for Water) (12:17): I am just going to pour myself a glass of water from the desalination plant over here. It is good water, this water from the desalination plant. That is a desalination plant that those opposite opposed. It is a desalination plant that you called a white elephant, that you said –

Nick McGowan: On a point of order, President, it is a long-established practice in this place – though I am happy for the practice to change – in respect of props, and clearly the minister has props. I am all for props, but I am all for consistency too.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: It is hard for me to say. There have been glasses of water in this chamber since I started 100 years ago, so I am not too sure if it is a prop.

A member interjected.

The PRESIDENT: That is a prop.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: I am seriously going to throw myself out.

Harriet SHING: I am very happy to perhaps circulate some water around the chamber, should you wish to taste this water from the desalination plant. It is water which has come from a plant that you opposed. Those opposite called it a white elephant, called it too expensive, called it unnecessary. And what we have done this year is –

David Davis interjected.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis!

Harriet SHING: See, it is good water. See, everyone is having some.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I am confident we are going to get through this today. I am confident, but Mr Davis, you are on a warning. Ms Crozier, I did not see the bottle of water; I thought it was a glass.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: No, I did not, but you stop with your prop and you stop with your prop. Mr McGowan, you are on a warning from yesterday.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: I can do that. People are telling me I cannot do it. I can do whatever I want.

Harriet SHING: I am a bit parched after all of that. The desalination plant has this year made its largest available order, and what this does is take us in total to delivery of water from a plant which many of your supporters over there across the way in the Liberal–One Nation coalition think we have not even turned on to two-thirds of a trillion litres of water. When you turn on the tap – hold on; it is good water –

David Davis: On a point of order, President, it is very clear that the minister is flouting your ruling by using the water as a prop. There is no doubt that is what she is doing. You know the rules in this chamber with respect to props, even if they are props that would normally be in the chamber.

The PRESIDENT: Like I said, glasses of water have been in this chamber for a long time. I actually did not turn around and see that the minister had a bottle. I would ask the minister not to –

Harriet SHING: I don’t have a bottle.

The PRESIDENT: You did. Do not flaunt that around. As far as drinking from a glass goes, it is very difficult, but I would ask you not to parade the bottle around. Minister, you have got 35 seconds to do your best.

Harriet SHING: What we can do our best with is water from the desalination plant. A quarter of every glass that comes out of taps across the Melbourne grid is coming from the desalination plant. Our water storages are at about 60 per cent. They are falling more significantly than in previous years. If those opposite had their way, there would be no desalination plant. Geelong would be on 10 per cent water reserves. What we see now is that we are in a position to be able to shore up water security, despite the fact that you opposed it.

Renee Heath: On a point of order, President, question time is not an opportunity to attack the opposition. Bring her back to the question, please.

The PRESIDENT: I uphold the point of order, but I do say that comparing policies is okay.

Harriet SHING: What a shame you think that water security is an attack on the Liberal–One Nation coalition. That speaks to your priorities rather than those of Victorians.