Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 708, standing in my name for today. It's been circulated and I believe it's been agreed to by the government and the opposition.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

Amendment to General Business Notice of Motion No. 708

As listed on pages 11-12 of today's Notice Paper in the name of Senator Hanson-Young

To move—

That—

(1) The Senate notes that:

(a) reports of allegations of water theft, corruption and bureaucratic misadministration have been a blow to community confidence that the Basin Plan is on track;

(b) in his first speech in 2016, the current Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources argued that "The balance [of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan] has been weighted disproportionately, without an understanding of the social and economic impacts on our communities";

(c) the former Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, in a leaked recording, said to a group of NSW irrigators, regarding the merging of the portfolios of agriculture and water resources, "We've taken water and put it back into agriculture so we can look after you and make sure we don't have the greenies running the show basically sending you out the back door";

(d) downstream communities, such as those in South Australia, rely on upstream users to do the right thing and for the rules to be applied without favour to any one group; and

  (e) the wisdom of this reliance is jeopardised when allegations of theft and corruption are not adequately addressed.

(2) There be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for

Agriculture and Water Resources, by 6:30 pm on 13 February 2018:

(a) any correspondence received by the Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, or representatives thereof, from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, or representatives thereof, between 1 November 2017 and 12 February 2018;

(b) any internal and external correspondence, reports (including drafts), presentations (including drafts) regarding the Northern Basin Review between 17 November 2016 and 24 November 2016, between:

  (i) members of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority board,

  (ii) the Murray-Darling Basin Authority,

  (iii) the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources,

  (iv) the office of the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources,

  (v) the office of the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources,

  (vi) the office of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.

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.

Scott Ryan (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

The government has communicated with the senator regarding the time frame and complexity of this motion. If passed, the government will consider the request as appropriate, noting some of the documents may not be available within the short time frame. The government is committed to delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full and on time, and seeks the Senate's support to deliver all elements of the plan.

Question agreed to.