Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I have received the following message from the Senate relating to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan:

The Senate transmits to the House of Representatives the following resolution which was agreed to by the Senate this day:

That the Senate—

(a)affirms its support for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan;

(b)expresses deep concerns about allegations of theft and corruption in management of water resources in the Barwon-Darling Basin raised by the Four Corners report on 24 July 2017;

(c)notes the matter has been referred to the Australian National Audit Office and New South Wales authorities for investigation;

(d)considers a state-based inquiry into allegations, revealed in the report, to be insufficient and that the only way to ensure confidence in states’ commitment to achieve the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is through a national investigation;

(e)calls for the establishment of an independent national judicial inquiry through the Council of Australian Governments; and

(f)calls on all governments to commit to achieving a healthy, sustainable Murray-Darling Basin which supports the future prosperity of the communities which rely upon it.

The Senate requests the concurrence of the House of Representatives in this resolution.

Copies of the message have been placed on the table for the information on honourable members. I do not propose to read its terms, which will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings and Hansard.

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