Senate Inquiry into the Provisions of the Commonwealth Water Act
Does the Act need to be changed? We don’t think so.
Last October, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority released a Guide to the Draft Plan.
Since then copies of the Plan have been burnt in the street, there’s been calls for the Plan to be delayed or scrapped altogether and it’s rained.
Amidst the furore, Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce has instigated a Senate Inquiry into the Water Act.
Together with other members of the Coalition, the irrigator and farming lobby and others, Barnaby believes that the Water Act (which was passed by both sides of Parliament in 2007) needs to be changed.
We disagree, and believe that as it stands, the Commonwealth Water Act provides direction on how economic, social and environmental objectives can and should be achieved. while setting out a path to return extraction from rivers in the Murray‐Darling Basin to sustainable levels. The Water Act is not in need of amendment to achieve its purpose or to fulfill its obligations.
Have a read of our submission to the Inquiry here
