Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has challenged Senator Barnaby Joyce on neutral ground, over plans for water in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Senator Wong has challenged Senator Joyce to debate the issue in Adelaide, but he said he would only consider a debate on neutral ground.
Ms Wong, campaigning in Brisbane on Thursday morning, questioned why Senator Joyce would not debate in Adelaide, at the bottom of the Murray-Darling system, but said she would consider a debate elsewhere.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"I just wonder what is that Barnaby's so worried about," Senator Wong told AAP.
"We've suggested he come to Adelaide and tell South Australians, who are very interested in what's happening in the river Murray, what his policy is and what his plans are.
"He's said a range of things and we think it's a good thing for those things to be debated."
Senator Wong said the government has already acted on policy for the Murray-Darling Basin.
"We've purchased over 800 billion litres of water, returned to the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin; we've invested in infrastructure, committed, I think .. some $4.4 billion in infrastructure in the basin to replumb the basin and make it more efficient," she said.
"We've done what we've said we'd do, which is set up an independent authority so that the Murray-Darling Basin can be run free of political interference."
National Farmers' Federation CEO Ben Fargher said senators Joyce and Wong were scheduled to attend the NFF conference in September, after the election.
Mr Fargher said the NFF would welcome a pre-election debate.
"The more debate and discussion we can get out about water policy, the better, so that we can hear from both sides what their plans are, particularly in regard to this new basin plan that's coming out," he said.
Mr Fargher was critical of the government for not releasing the study into the Murray-Darling Basin before the election.
"How is she going to ensure balance between the environment and production?
"That's what she needs to articulate from our point-of-view," he said.
