Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023

Type
Government
Portfolio
Environment and Water
Originating house
House of Representatives
Status
Act
Parliament no
47

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Summary

Amends the Water Act 2007 and Basin Plan 2012 to: expand the type of projects that can deliver the Basin Plan target of 450 gigalitres (GL) of additional environmental water; repeal the statutory 1,500 GL cap on Commonwealth water purchases; enable funds from the Water for the Environment Special Account to be used to enhance environmental outcomes in the Basin; provide additional time for Basin States to deliver Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) Adjustment Mechanism projects; enable the Inspector-General of Water Compliance to determine SDL compliance and require action plans; provide for a roadmap for the delivery of constraints relaxation projects across the Southern Basin; delay the review of the Act from 2024 until 2027; and implement recommendations of the Water market reform: final roadmap report in relation to water markets and water management in the Basin. Also amends the Water Act 2007 to make technical amendments in relation to First Ministers’ Council; and makes consequential amendments to the Water Act 2007 and Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Progress

House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time 06 Sep 2023
Second reading moved 06 Sep 2023
Second reading debate 12 Sep 2023
Second reading debate 13 Sep 2023
Second reading debate 14 Sep 2023
Second reading debate 17 Oct 2023
Second reading debate 18 Oct 2023
Second reading agreed to 18 Oct 2023
Consideration in detail debate
  • Amendment details: 5 Crossbench and 31 Government agreed to
18 Oct 2023
Third reading agreed to 18 Oct 2023
Senate
Introduced and read a first time 19 Oct 2023
Second reading moved 19 Oct 2023
Second reading debate 27 Nov 2023
Second reading agreed to 28 Nov 2023
Committee of the Whole debate 28 Nov 2023
Committee of the Whole debate 29 Nov 2023
Third reading agreed to
  • : Amendment details: 20 Government, 5 Australian Greens, 2 Independent (Senator Thorpe), 2 Independent (Senator Van) and 4 Independent (Senator David Pocock) agreed to
30 Nov 2023
House of Representatives
Consideration of Senate message
  • Details: House agreed to Senate amendments
30 Nov 2023
Finally passed both Houses 30 Nov 2023
Assent
  • Act no: 111
  • Year: 2023
07 Dec 2023

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

Explanatory memoranda

Proposed amendments

House of representatives

Senate

Schedules of amendments

Bills digest

Notes

Helpful information

Text of bill

  • First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
  • Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
  • As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

  • Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
  • Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
  • Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changes to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.

We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

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