Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Davey, I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 319, standing in the name of Senator Davey, before asking that it be taken as a formal motion. The amendment changes the reporting date to 27 September 2023.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, by no later than 10 am on Wednesday, 27 September 2023, the following documents, including audited reports held by the Murray Darling Basin Authority and/or the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment:

(a) the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) Funding Agreement for the funding of a Cultural Flows Project Officer (The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) reference MD004598), the Cultural Flows Agreement; and the 2021-22 Core Funding Agreement (MDBA reference MD005878);

(b) as required under the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) Cultural Flows Agreement, the final report for the project and the 2020-21 audited financial acquittal report;

(c) as required under the 2021-22 Core Funding Agreement, the progress and financial reports;

(d) copies of all Core Funding Agreements or related agreements with NBAN between 2017-19 and 2021-22;

(e) copies of each of the required reports under the Core Funding Agreement for each of the years since 2017-19, including:

(i) the annual report for each year outlining how the activities detailed in that agreement were delivered,

(ii) the grant report detailing the income and related expenses associated with that agreement, and

(iii) the audited financial report; and

(f) any briefing notes, media briefing notes, file notes, emails, written communication and reports, including audited reports held by the MDBA, and/or the department relating to:

(i) the requisite number of Nation Gatherings and community exhibitions,

(ii) support provided by the MDBA to NBAN's business improvement capability through funding the following business improvement activities:

(A) the Business Health Check, conducted between 17 November 2021 to 19 April 2022,

(B) the forensic audit conducted in 2022 and covering the period from July 2017 to March 2022,

(C) the Business Improvement Manager to assist NBAN in finalising its overdue contractual reporting, and

(D) work with NBAN on administering its business 3 operations, noting that the Business Improvement Manager was engaged for the period 31 August 2022 to 30 November 2022,

(iii) the decision made to defund NBAN and not renew its funding including discussions held on the 28 April 2022, with the decision communicated to NBAN on the 3 November 2022,

(iv) allegations of bullying and corruption within NBAN, and

(v) any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e).

Question agreed to.