Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

The government is very confident that the Basin Plan was developed consistent with the requirements of the Water Act. The Water Act itself is a legitimate act that was passed by this parliament. This question about legal advice has been raised before. In fact, I think it was raised during the previous government's time as well. The government does not release legal advice in regard to legislation, although I would refer you to the fact that, I think, former Minister Burke some time ago released a summary of such legal advice that you can review. On the claims you've made about maladministration—and my advice is from the royal commission—most of those came on the commissioner's basis that the Water Act itself was invalid in the first place. We obviously disagree with that point of view based on our legal advice on the Water Act and therefore we don't accept those conclusions either.