Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

  (i) on 16 November 2017, the Senate ordered the production of all documents relating to water purchases across the Murray Darling Basin from 1 January 2017,

  (ii) on 12 February 2018, documents were returned redacted, including the valuations of Clyde and Kiora in Queensland (the 'watergate' purchases), with a claim of public interest immunity and the documents were re-tabled on 26 October 2018, with the 'watergate' valuations remaining redacted,

  (iii) despite denying the Senate access to the 'watergate' valuations, the department has released them to a citizen under freedom of information law, and

  (iv) 'watergate' purchases were effected at $2,745 per megalitre, despite an independent valuation recommending between $1,100 and $2,300 per megalitre;

(b) the Minister representing the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, attend the Senate at 12pm on 31 August 2020 to explain, for no longer than 15 minutes, why an improper public interest immunity claim was advanced in relation to the 'watergate' valuations, and why the Commonwealth paid more than the independent valuer's range; and

(c) any senator may move to take note of the explanation and the debate (maximum 1.5 hours; 15 minutes per speaker) shall have precedence over all business until determined.

Question agreed to.