Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) Share this | Hansard source

Before I respond to Senator Brown's question, I table the supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments to the bill.

Senator Brown, in response to your question in relation to how these amendments apply in relation to the Murray-Darling Basin versus the Water Act, the principal amendment, which is seeking to amend clause 12(3A) on page 11, says the minister must act consistently with the Water Act. The Water Act obviously covers more than the Murray-Darling Basin, so it is in essence a broad-reaching requirement that the RIC must be compliant with the Water Act in relation to all federal water policy.