Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Hanson-Young, for your ongoing interest in the basin. In terms of the appointment of Mr Keelty to the role of Inspector-General, my advice is that I expect the proposed legislation to create the role will be introduced into parliament in the autumn 2020 sitting. The Department of Agriculture has commenced discussions with the basin states on the drafting of the legislation. The interim inspector-general has been out talking with stakeholders and the communities. States have raised concerns about the scope of powers of the inspector-general, and Minister Littleproud is eager to ensure that the powers of the inspector-general will provide basin communities with sufficient confidence in water management in the basin.