Water Industry Reforms

A question to the Minister for Water and the River Murray in regards to briefings with ESCOSA.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK  ( 16:07  ):  Can the minister outline whether he has had any briefings from ESCOSA either post-election or pre-election?
 
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER  (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation)  ( 16:08  ): I am not sure that I would actually qualify that as saying that I have had briefings from ESCOSA. Of course, I meet with ESCOSA regularly.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK  ( 16:08  ): Supplementary question: can the minister advise whether, in any of those meetings, Dr Kerin expressed a view that the structure of our state's water industry needed to be reviewed?
 
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER  (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation)  ( 16:08  ): I have no such recollection.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK  ( 16:08  ): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Water and the River Murray.
 
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Yesterday, in response to a question in this place, the minister said:

In terms of our third party access legislation, I understand that we are in discussions with the commonwealth on that and once we have a response  from the commonwealth and we can address any concerns they might have then I will proceed further. 

My question to the minister is: can he confirm whether this negotiation is under the commonwealth's asset recycling program?
 
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER  (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation)  ( 16:09  ): It is not.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK  ( 16:09  ): Supplementary question: does it then relate to matters to do with irrigation?
 
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER  (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation)  ( 16:09  ): I believe so.