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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) considers that all governmental agencies, when invited, should seek to participate willingly and transparently with the ongoing South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission; and

(b) condemns the government for its decision to prevent the Murray-Darling Basin Authority from appearing before the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission.

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

I seek leave to make 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 does not support this motion. When the South Australian royal commission was first announced in November 2017, the focus was on compliance matters. The government previously indicated that it would cooperate with the commission into compliance matters. The filed terms of reference go beyond this original scope. The government has commenced proceedings in the High Court and will leave those issues to be addressed in that forum. The government has never shied away from the accusations of water theft and noncompliance and has acted and will continue to act.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 921 be agreed to.