Bill
Water Legislation Amendment (Inspector-General of Water Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021
passed, as at 2021-06-30. Resources, Water and Northern Australia portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Resources, Water and Northern Australia
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2021-05-26
- second reading — 2021-05-26
- second reading — 2021-06-03
- second reading — 2021-06-03
- third reading — 2021-06-03
- introduced — 2021-06-15
- second reading — 2021-06-15
- second reading — 2021-06-23
- second reading — 2021-06-23
- committee — 2021-06-23
- third reading — 2021-06-23
- other — 2021-06-24
- other — 2021-06-24
- passed — 2021-06-24
- royal assent — 2021-06-30
Divisions
- Water Legislation Amendment (Inspector-General of Water Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021 - in Committee - Nationals' amendments — 2021-06-23, Senate: negative, ayes 7, noes 42
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr6721_amend_ece809ae-7028-4fa3-9762-ddc32fd223ac%22;rec=0) introduced by Victorian Senator and Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, Senator [Bridget McKenzie](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/bridget_mckenzie), which means the amendments failed. Interestingly, these amendments were inconsistent with the Cabinet's views, meaning that the Nationals were breaking with the rest of the Coalition in introducing them. ### What does this bill do? According to the [bill homepage](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6721), the bill was introduced to: > * *establish the role of an independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance to monitor, and provide independent oversight of, water compliance;* > * *provide for the Inspector-General's powers and functions; and* > * *introduce new offence and civil penalty provisions for unlawful conduct relating to the taking of water and new civil penalties for conduct relating to trading of water rights* — 2021-06-23, Senate: negative, ayes 7, noes 41
- Water Legislation Amendment (Inspector-General of Water Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021 - in Committee - Water register — 2021-06-23, Senate: affirmative, ayes 32, noes 27
- The majority voted in favour of voting immediately on the [motion of dissent](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/senate/2021-06-24/17) moved by Queensland Senator [Larissa Waters](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/larissa_waters) (Greens), which means it succeeded. — 2021-06-24, Senate: affirmative, ayes 38, noes 10
- The majority voted against a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2021-06-24.206.1) "*That the ruling of the President be dissented from*", which was introduced by Queensland Senator [Larissa Waters](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/larissa_waters) (Greens). This means it failed. ### What does this motion mean? Senator Waters is [opposing a ruling](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2021-06-24.201.1) by the President that "putting the question immediately means putting it immediately without debate." — 2021-06-24, Senate: negative, ayes 10, noes 35
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2021-06-24.208.1) to not insist on its amendments to the [Water Legislation Amendment (Inspector-General of Water Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6721). This means that the bill can be passed and become law. ### What does this bill do? According to the [bill homepage](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6721), the bill was introduced to: > * *establish the role of an independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance to monitor, and provide independent oversight of, water compliance;* > * *provide for the Inspector-General's powers and functions; and* > * *introduce new offence and civil penalty provisions for unlawful conduct relating to the taking of water and new civil penalties for conduct relating to trading of water rights* — 2021-06-24, Senate: affirmative, ayes 34, noes 12
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2021-05-26.
The bill would create an independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance to oversee water law enforcement in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Inspector-General, appointed by the Governor-General, would take over compliance and audit powers from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and replace the interim inspector-general.
New criminal and civil penalties would target unlawful water taking and trading, with the Inspector-General required to notify state agencies before acting.
- Establishes the statutory role of Inspector-General of Water Compliance.
- Transfers compliance, audit and assurance functions from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to the Inspector-General.
- Creates new offence and civil penalty provisions for unlawful water take and water rights trading.
Commonwealth and Basin State agencies managing Murray-Darling Basin water resources, and persons involved in water take or trading.
Sources
em
em supp
billhome
frl act