Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I certainly welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter of public importance. The Australian government is committed to delivering the Basin Plan in full, on time and to achieve the best possible outcomes for basin communities. In fact, the Basin Plan is on track to do exactly that. This ability to deliver on time and in full was reaffirmed at the 9 August COAG meeting, when first ministers of basin states endorsed the implementation plan.

The plan provides a credible pathway towards securing the triple bottom line outcomes of the Basin Plan and paves the way for collaborative implementation by all basin governments. A key step in the Basin Plan implementation was taken in June this year, with all basin ministers agreeing the final package of sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism and projects, which is expected to fully offset the remaining water recovery gap in the southern basin. At the suggestion of the South Australian minister, Ernst & Young has been appointed to undertake an independent analysis on efficiency measure programs, consistent with the Basin Plan legal requirement to achieve neutral or improved socioeconomic outcomes. Ernst & Young will draw on an expert panel to assist with the analysis, and will report to basin water ministers by December this year. Progress has also been made on settling the Northern basin review, with basin water ministers agreeing in principle to implement new projects in June this year, including the protection of environmental flows. A significant step towards delivering the Basin Plan was also achieved with the accreditation of the Warrego water resources plan. This is the first of 36 water resource plans, to be delivered under the Basin Plan, which will ensure the long-term management of water resources to achieve the enduring bottom line outcomes that we desire.

The Australian government takes allegations of water theft and the water management of the Barwon-Darling Basin very seriously. Irrigators and communities all want to have confidence that the rules that govern water use in the Murray-Darling Basin are being followed. They also need to have confidence in the authorities that implement and administer the rules across the basin. It is vitally important to note that no allegations have been tested. They remain just that: allegations.

I welcome the action that has been taken by the New South Wales government to launch an independent investigation, led by Ken Matthews AO, into the allegations made on Four Cornersless than 24 hours after the Four Corners program was aired. Ken Matthews is a highly respected Commonwealth public servant and former chair and chief executive officer of the National Water Commission. Mr Matthews will be assisted by three expert investigators with experience in both police and ICAC investigations. Mr Matthews's team has been granted full access to departmental documents and systems and has been authorised by the secretary of the NSW Department of Industry to interview any departmental staff required. Submissions from the public will be invited to Mr Matthews's investigation, and a secure email address and phone number have been established for this purpose.

The allegations in the Four Corners report have also been referred to the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption, an organisation with extensive powers of investigation. I believe there is no member in this House who would consider the powers of the New South Wales ICAC as inadequate to investigate or intervene with regard to the Four Corners allegations. In particular, I would like to draw to the attention of the House the extensive coercive powers of ICAC. It has the powers of a standing royal commission. These include the power to compel the production of documents and other information, the power to compel a public authority or public official to provide information, the power to enter properties occupied by a public authority or public official to inspect and copy documents, the power to obtain search warrants for properties, the power to use surveillance devices and intercept phone calls and the power to compel witnesses to answer questions at compulsory private hearings and public authorities. The member for Watson and members opposite will be fully aware of the powers of ICAC. With some of their comrades, Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald, having incurred the wrath of ICAC, they would be aware of ICAC's powers. It is entirely appropriate that the New South Wales government has launched these investigations into matters that directly relate to allegations of breaches of New South Wales state law. It is illogical to argue that state authorities are incapable of investigating and, if necessary, taking to prosecution any breaches of their own state laws. It is illogical.

Allegations of water theft and corruption in the administration of the Barwon-Darling is clearly such a case. In addition to investigations being undertaken in New South Wales specifically into the Barwon-Darling the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and assistant minister Ruston have jointly announced that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority will conduct an independent basin-wide review into compliance with state based regulations governing water use.

The Australian National Audit Office is also undertaking an audit into the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in monitoring and payment arrangements under National Partnership Agreements. In view of the extensive reviews and investigations underway, there is no justification for the Commonwealth to initiate a judicial review or royal commission. A judicial review or royal commission would likely take from nine to 12 months, cost millions of dollars and require the cooperation of the New South Wales government and, potentially, other basin states.

I would like to put into context the scale of the allegations being made in the context of the wider Murray-Darling Basin Plan. I can inform the House that the Murray-Darling Basin long-term annual inflows are some 32,553 gigalitres. Average annual flows at the barrages are some 7,218 gigalitres. Total licensed extraction from the Barwon-Darling system, prior to the introduction of the cap in 2006, was 534 gigalitres. The Barwon-Darling basin—

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