18th November, 2025.
My question is directed to the Premier. The Premier promised that the Warragamba Dam wall will not be raised. Since then, the Reconstruction Authority has revised its plans. Will he support me to have his promise legislated by amending part 5A of the Water NSW Act to allow the operation of Warragamba Dam to facilitate flood mitigation downstream of the dam and to remove any mention of raising the dam wall?
Mr CHRIS MINNS (Kogarah—Premier) (12:59): I thank the member for Wollondilly for her question. I cannot agree to that in a unilateral way today in question time, but obviously the Government will look at the legislation that the member has presented to Parliament. We note her advocacy in relation to this question over a long period. I know the issues of Warragamba Dam quite well. I remember travelling to Warragamba and looking at it when I was the shadow Minister for Water. They used to derisively call me the water boy. It was a horrible time for me.
Mr Jihad Dib: But that's where it started.
Mr CHRIS MINNS: That is where it all started. The issues have been quite well ventilated but, just to refresh members' memories, the original cost for raising the Warragamba Dam wall was about $650 million. However, within a very short time, it was revealed that the actual cost was closer to $2 billion. That was in 2021 or 2022. If you put in environmental offsets—because you would be inundating a World Heritage protected national park—it would add maybe half a billion dollars or a billion dollars to that. So you are getting close to $3 billion for a project that was originally budgeted to be $650 million. I remember the ins and outs of the argument because 45 per cent of floodwaters do not cross Warragamba Dam. They come in through—I will see if I can remember—the Grose, the Colo and the Nepean.
Mr Ray Williams: They're not the dangerous ones, old mate.
Mr CHRIS MINNS: I love to hear your insights, mate. Why don't you get onto Rouse Hill Hospital and go back to sleep?
The SPEAKER: The Premier will cease exchanging comments with the member for Kellyville. The member for Kellyville will cease interjecting.
Mr CHRIS MINNS: I make the point that part 5A—
Ms Robyn Preston: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: The Premier will resume his seat. The Clerk will stop the clock. The member for Hawkesbury rises on a point of order.
Ms Robyn Preston: My point of order is taken under Standing Order 75. The Premier referred to the member for Kellyville as "mate".
The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. The Premier will continue his answer. Members on both sides of the Chamber will come to order.
Mr CHRIS MINNS: Now those opposite are declaring war on mateship—that great Australian term. I refuse to withdraw my comment. The legislation is not required as it pertains to Government policy, because we are not going to change our view. However, I understand the concern of the member for Wollondilly. After this Government's tenure, what will the future bring? I do not know. The costs are unlikely to come down. I will scrutinise the legislation and report back to Parliament.