Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and on behalf of Senator Heffernan, move:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee for inquiry and report by 29 November 2009:The ability of the Commonwealth, across state borders, to sustainably manage water resources in the national interest, with particular reference to:

(a)

the issuing, and sustainability of water licences under any government draft resource plans and water resource plans;

(b)

the effect of relevant agreements and Commonwealth environmental legislation on the issuing of water licences, trading rights or further extraction of water from river systems;

(c)

the collection, collation and analysis and dissemination of information about Australia’s water resources, and the use of such information in the granting of water rights;

(d)

the issuing of water rights by the states in light of Commonwealth purchases of water rights; and

(e)

any other related matters.

Question agreed to.