Inspector-General to monitor the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and water use
In a big win for South Australia, a “tough new cop” would watch the water use of upstream states in the Murray-Darling Basin under a Federal Government plan.
- Parts of rural SA experience lowest July rain on record
- SA calls for new umpire for the River Murray
- Political parties, ABC putting Murray-Darling Basin plan at risk: MP
- Murray-Darling Basin drought reaches uncharted territory
Integrity of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan would be monitored by a new “tough cop on the beat” under a plan being spruiked by the Federal Government.
Water Minister David Littleproud will take the proposal to a meeting with state ministers, including SA’s David Speirs, on Sunday.
The plan underpinning the protection of the Murray-Darling Basin plan has come under fierce scrutiny in the past few years over concerns interstate irrigators have been rorting the system.
Mr Littleproud will propose an Inspector-General for the Murray-Darling Basin when the Basin states meet for Ministerial Council on Sunday.
“This is a new tough cop on the beat across the Murray-Darling, with the powers needed to ensure integrity in delivery of the Basin Plan,” he said.
“The Inspector-General can investigate suspected water theft, collect evidence and supply it to the authorities.”
The new statutory position will have powers under Federal laws that govern the basin.
Mr Littleproud has also promised the Inspector-General will be able to
HOLD the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Commonwealth and all states to account;
PROVIDE independent assurance to the community around the plan’s implementation;
ENSURE the laws governing water use are followed; and
REFER issues to the Commonwealth Integrity Commission once it is established.
The position will be welcomed by the South Australian Government.
Last week Premier Steven Marshall called for an independent umpire to stop “states marking their own homework”.
Mr Marshall, who was in Canberra this week pleading the case, said he’d push for its creation to address a lack of trust about water usage in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick, who has been a long-time advocate for a Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin Plan, has given in-principle support.
“We would need to see the details of the responsibilities, the jurisdiction and powers conferred, the resourcing attached to the office and the lines of reporting,” Senator Patrick told The Advertiser.
“Will the Inspector-General just report to the Ministerial Council or to parliament?
“Will the Inspector-General appear before Estimates? These are important questions.
“It is good that the Inspector-General will be able to refer matters to the Integrity Commission, however we note the Commission as proposed by the Government is a wet lettuce.
“It would be useful if the Inspector-General could refer matters to state corruption commissions.”
Mr Littleproud said the Inspector-General was the latest in a long line of integrity measures to make sure communities, farmers and environmentalists could all have confidence the Basin Plan was delivering as was agreed.
“The public needs to know the Basin Plan is delivering the water it was intended to, and farmers need to know the Plan is working as it should,” he said.
“Offices and staff to support the Inspector-General are expected to be established in the northern and southern basin.”
State and territory ministers will be asked this weekend to endorse the new position, which is due to be established by 2020.