Mr McCORMACK (Riverina—Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Leader of The Nationals) (14:12): I thank the member for Nicholls for his very timely question. As we know, much of Australia is experiencing a terrible drought. As the government, we've already committed more than $7 billion to helping our farmers and our regional communities through this prolonged dry spell. But we can, we must and we will do more. Many of us in this place actually live in these drought-stricken areas and we see firsthand how these communities are suffering. It is heartbreaking, and we will continue to provide the necessary support to them. To help build up resilience in our drought-affected communities, this government has committed $1.3 billion to our National Water Infrastructure Development Fund. It is an important investment. The member for Nicholls and his community know just how important it is. They know just how important water infrastructure—indeed, water security—is. The Mitiamo pipeline project runs though the electorates of the member for Nicholls and the member for Mallee. It is $14.5 million commitment to water security in the Mitiamo region. It is going to provide a reliable water source for agricultural industries. I remember being with the members on that windswept day at that football oval and the locals were so impressed, so happy and so relieved that we were getting on and doing it. Years of talk have turned into action, and I commend the member for Nicholls and the member for Mallee for their hard work in this regard. The project will cover up to 75,000 hectares and 180 farms. It will be supported through 375 kilometres of pressurised pipeline, providing 85 megalitres of future-proofing storage. Previously, these farms were reliant on farm dams, which we know are drying up. But don't take my word for it; the project committee chairman, Neil Allen, had this to say: It means we will have clean, fresh water, 24 hours a day; we'll no longer have to rely on channel filled dams. Water will be cleaner for stock, cleaner for the boom sprays and, as it's a sparsely populated area, it's an ideal spot for pigs and poultry. There is also an opportunity for feedlots to finish lambs off, and they won't have to worry about water. That's significant. The Mitiamo pipeline is one of 21 projects being delivered, so far, through the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund, and we're working with state and territory governments to do even more. It's plain and simple: we need to build dams. We're doing that. We've already ticked off on many water storage infrastructure projects that will be finished this year. The National Water Grid Authority is going to take the petty politics out of it. We're going to get on and build more water storage infrastructure, because if there is one thing that our farmers and our rural communities know it's that water security is vital for their future and their prosperity.