Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move amendments (1), (4) and (5) on sheet 7315 together:

(1) Schedule 1, item 2, page 5 (line 37), after "by", insert "at least".

(4) Schedule 1, item 2, page 11 (line 20), after "by", insert "at least".

(5) Schedule 1, item 2, page 11 (line 34), after "by", insert "at least".

These amendments relate to the volume of water to be reclaimed for environmental use and are identical to the first amendment of Senator Hanson-Young. Currently the bill states a flat amount of 450 gigalitres. These items will amend the bill to state that 450 gigalitres is a minimum figure. This will give the account more flexibility and will emphasise the fact that it is vital that the greatest amount of water possible is set aside for environmental use. This amendment is also inspired by the wastage we have seen in other infrastructure funds where only a small number of projects have been approved and water returns have been smaller than expected. Last night I made reference to the fact that the Australian National Audit Office, the office of the Commonwealth Auditor-General, has been very critical of some infrastructure programs in terms of their effectiveness and the processes by which they have been approved. These amendments ensure that the object of the account is to increase the volume of water for environmental use by gigalitres, but that figure is the baseline and not the ultimate goal. It is about having a greater degree of transparency, of accountability and efficiency in terms of water being returned to the environment.