Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (17:04): I rise to contribute to this important debate today. Last week the Productivity Commission released an interim report into the National Water Reform. This is a damming assessment of the state of Australia's water supply and water security. But, of course, the Productivity Commission, being the economically conservative body that it is, has taken a very rational approach to what is a looming crisis right here in Australia. The Productivity Commission has nailed the issue: climate change—a warming climate, more extreme weather events and the destruction of our environment—is putting our water at risk within our rivers, our treatments, our water catchments and the water supply for our towns and our cities. When the Productivity Commission raises such important issues, you have to turn and wonder who is in charge. We know who is in charge of Australia's federal water policy. It's the National Party. That's because, of course, the deal that was done to form the Morrison government was to ensure that the water portfolio was given to a member of the National Party. Think about this: the party who doesn't accept the climate science and doesn't even believe that we need to do what the science is requiring—to reduce pollution to tackle climate change—is in charge of the very important portfolio that is impacted most by the drying climate. The National Party with their head buried in the sand on climate change— Senator McKenzie interjecting— Senator HANSON-YOUNG: is putting Australia's water supply at risk. Senator McKenzie: That's outrageous. Senator HANSON-YOUNG: Australia's water security is threatened by climate change, and it is hanging in the balance because of the climate denialism inside the National Party and of those at the helm of Australia's water policy. The Murray-Darling Basin is in crisis. It is oversubscribed. The extraction levels are so big that there is not enough water in the system the keep all of the users sustainable. There's not enough water in the system to keep the river flowing from A to B. In fact, we have towns right now in New South Wales, like Wilcannia, that don't have enough water to drink. Of course, this issue gets worse and worse not just because of the drying climate but because of those further upstream who are allowed to siphon off water that would have run into the system when it rained. So on one hand we've got climate denialism overarching in the National Party and in this government, and then we've got a corrupt system of mismanagement of the scarce amount of water that is there. Senator McKenzie interjecting— Senator HANSON-YOUNG: We've got cotton farmers in the north harvesting floodwater. Meanwhile towns further downstream don't even have enough clean water to drink, let alone to irrigate crops. I tell you what: you can't eat cotton, and you certainly can't— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Askew ): Senator Hanson-Young, I have Senator Patrick on his feet for a point of order. Senator Patrick: I'm actually struggling to hear Senator Hanson-Young because of Senator McKenzie's interjections. I ask that you remind— Government senators interjecting— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Patrick. I do note that there is a considerable level of noise in the chamber. Please respect Senator Hanson-Young as she finishes her contribution. Senator HANSON-YOUNG: The squawking from this corner of the room— Senator McKenzie: Point of order— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: A point of order, Senator McKenzie? Senator McKenzie: I really think that's poor language from the senator. I think reflecting on another senator by saying they are 'squawking' is unparliamentary. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I'll rule on that. The discussion was general. It wasn't at one person, so it is not a point of order on this occasion. Senator Hanson-Young to continue. Senator HANSON-YOUNG: The National Party over here in this corner are carrying on because they know the truth. They know that there is not enough water in the Murray-Darling Basin to ensure that towns, small farmers and the environment can survive, because they, of course, have allowed their political interests to siphon off, to harvest and to take all of the water so that the rest of us are left with nothing. Now we hear from the Productivity Commission that this is going to be made even worse because of climate change. If we want to get this right, if we want to secure Australia's water supply, we've got to get rid of the Nationals in running this portfolio. If Mr Morrison as Prime Minister is serious about the future of this country, he has to dump the National Party in pulling the strings on Australia's water supply.