Lower Lakes Water Cycling Program

A supplementary question regarding the Lower Lakes Water Cycling Program to the Minister for Water and the River Murray.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK ( 15:09 :27 ): By way of a supplementary question, can the minister confirm that one episode of lake cycling is in the order of 240 gigalitres and upwards of $25 million?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) ( 15:09 :42 ): The answer is that it all depends on what else is happening at—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: Oh, yes.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Well, the honourable member asks a question and is not interested in the answer. It is a complicated situation.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The minister has the floor.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: You have to take into account environmental conditions, what other waters—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The Hon. Ms Lensink says 'blah, blah, blah'. Clearly she is not interested in the answer. Clearly she does not care about the science. Clearly she is not after a real answer for the community.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Honourable members, the minister has the floor.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: It is a difficult question that needs to take into account the whole context of the river, the environment at the point of time we are talking about, how much water is coming down the river system currently, how much is coming across the border, what is being used for environmental watering upstream—the honourable member has no clue.