New South Wales’ Failure to Meet National Water Standards
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES: I ask the Minister for Justice, representing the Minister for Water Utilities, a question without notice. Is the Minister aware of reports that suggest that New South Wales, amongst other States and Territories, may be stripped of control over water supplies if it fails to meet commitments under the Federal Government’s National Water Initiative? What measures is the New South Wales Government currently taking to meet key targets under the federal initiative? Why have these measures failed to reach these key targets? What plans does the Minister have to improve the approach in meeting these targets?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: The question would be more appropriate for the Minister for Primary Industries.
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES: I am happy for him to answer it.
The Hon. Rick Colless: He won’t be able to answer it.
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: I will be able to answer it. In answer to the first question, there have been discussions with the National Water Commission in relation to its attitude to a number of issues. The commission has indicated to us that it would require certain elements of the National Water Initiative to be implemented in the way it believes they should be. For instance, it has indicated an attitude in relation to the issue of the environmental standards that were released for the water sharing plans. In relation to a number of the Commission’s other initiatives, it has indicated to us that it would consider penalties of one form or another, or denial of access to resources for various projects under the National Water Initiative [NWI].
So, yes, there have been indications in those areas. So far as stripping of controls over water supplies is concerned, that has certainly not been raised. So far as that part of the question is concerned, that is not anything that has been indicated to us. In meeting the key targets under the NWI and the Council of Australian Governments [COAG] agreement, that is the 500 gigalitres for the Living Murray initiative, for instance, as the honourable member would know, the Government has announced that Anabranch project is underway—a $54 million project to save 47 gigalitres in the Darling River. That is the first major project that is underway. Victoria and other States have other projects.
In relation to the meeting of these targets, we believe we are on track. We have a number of other proposals that are going forward to the National Water Commission [NWC] and I believe those projects will help us to meet those commitments. But let’s face it: the Federal Government’s attitude to water and to a lot of other issues is becoming increasingly one of a heavy stick used against the States in relation to their policy settings. The Federal Government has made it clear that if we do not meet what it thinks is the way the situation should go, it will exercise a penalty regime in relation to our water issues.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: Did you blokes sign off on this, or not?
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: Signing off on a $500 million program is one thing. It is another thing altogether for the Federal government to come along and, having taken the money that was deliberately set aside for the competition payments, put only $400 million of it into a new fund, and then say to the States “If you do not do it precisely the way we want you to do it, we will deny you access or fine you.” I think that is absolutely outrageous. Members of The Nationals should be very clear that the States have control of water. We will continue to have control of water and these petty attitudes that the Commonwealth takes towards talking about fining the States is completely inappropriate and using the National Water Commission to do that is an absolute disgrace. We are working on appropriate projects under the National Water Initiative, which will mean that we will meet our commitments to the Living Murray.
