Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by the second last sitting day in March 2018:

The adequacy of the regulatory framework governing water use by the extractive industry, with particular reference to:

(a) the social, economic and environmental impacts of extractive projects' take and use of water;

(b) existing safeguards in place to prevent the damage, contamination or draining of Australia' s aquifers and water systems;

(c) any gaps in the regulatory framework which may lead to adverse social, economic or environmental outcomes, as a result of the take and use of water by extractive projects;

(d) any difference in the regulatory regime surrounding the extractive industry' s water use, and that of other industries;

(e) the effectiveness of the 'water trigger' under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the value in expanding the 'trigger' to include other projects, such as shale and tight gas; and

(f) any other related matters.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This inquiry is unnecessary, as safeguards are already in place to sustainably manage water resources. The Water Act governs water extraction in the Murray-Darling Basin, and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act has a water trigger requiring environmental assessment for coal seam gas and large coalmining development that may significantly impact water resources. A 2017 independent water trigger review found it is an appropriate mechanism to manage risks to water resources. A review of the EPBC Act will also commence by 2019, including the operation of the act as it relates to extractive industries. The government sees no justification for this inquiry. It notes the ongoing workloads of committees and committee secretariats and expresses its concern at additional references.

Question agreed to.