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

I seek leave to amend general business motion No. 450 standing in my name concerning an order for the production of documents relating to the Murray-Darling Basin.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

To move—

(1) The Senate notes that:

(a) the Murray-Darling river system is a national resource;

(b) the aim of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, agreed to in 2012, is to ensure that water is shared between all users, including the environment, in a sustainable way;

(c) it is important that the Commonwealth, the States and users comply with the agreed plan;

(d) on 31 August 2017 the ABC's Lateline program aired serious allegations in respect to illegal structures and water diversion within the Murray- Darling Basin and the alleged failure by officials to act upon the assertion of these allegations to authorities by the Lamey family; and

(e) the Senate has an oversight responsibility in relation to implementation and execution of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and visibility to the response of authorities to any allegations of conduct contrary to the plan, or the law, will assist the Senate in this regard.

(2) That there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, by the start of business on 15September 2017:

(a) any correspondence between the Lameys and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), the Department of Agriculture Water Resources (DAWR) and/or the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) raising allegations over illegal structures, water diversion and other improper conduct taking place near their property on the McIntyre River west of Goondiwindi;

(b) any correspondence between Norman Farming Pty Ltd (and related entities) and the MDBA, the DAWR or the CEWH in relation to issues raised by the Lameys;

(c) any internal correspondence of the MDBA, DAWR and/or CEWH on the issues raised by the Lameys (excluding correspondence dealing with media enquiries);

(d) any correspondence between MDBA, DAWR, and/or CEWH on the issues raised by the Lameys (excluding correspondence dealing with media enquiries);

(e) any correspondence from MDBA, DAWR and/or CEWH to the Queensland Department of National Resources and Mines and/or SunWater on the issues raised by the Lameys;

(f) a summary of the expenditure of public money from the Commonwealth, including through any Queensland Government programs, to Norman Farming Pty Ltd (and related entities) since commencement of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, including:

  (i) the expenditure amounts,

  (ii) the associated volume of water,

  (iii) the scope of work associated with each expenditure amount,

  (iv) evidence that the work associated with each expenditure amount has been completed, and

  (v) evidence that the volume of water associated with each expenditure is verified; and

(g) a summary of any negotiations on-foot between the MDBA, DAWR, and/or CEWH and Norman Farming Pty Ltd (and related entities) including in relation to the store and release of environmental water.

Question agreed to.