Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Bernardi, Gichuhi, Hanson-Young and Xenophon, move:

(1) 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.

(2) This resolution be communicated to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

I seek leave to make a statement of no more than one minute.