Footnotes

Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes (including consideration of the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008, October 2008.

Chapter 2 - Governance arrangements under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform

[1]        Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform (IGA), 3 July 2008. Available at http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2008-07-03/docs/Murray_Darling_IGA.pdf.

[2]        Murray-Darling Basin Reform, Memorandum of Understanding, 26 March 2008, p. 1. Available at http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2008-03-26/docs/attachment_a.pdf. The Basin Plan is discussed in detail in Chapter 3.

[3]        IGA, Preamble, paragraph 17.

[4]        See IGA, 3 July 2008, pp 10-19, and Schedules B and C.

[5]        Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, pp 3-4.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 46-7.

[7]        Submission 40, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 7. See also: MainStream Environmental Consulting and RiverSmart Australia, Submission 12, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 4; Southern Alexandrina Business Association, Submission 13, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 3; Ms Sarah Moles, Submission 1, p.1; Ms Liz Yelland, Submission 8, p. 2; Mr David Tipping, Submission 16, p. 13.

[8]        Submission 57, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 8.

[9]        Submission 24, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5.

[10]      Submission 46, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 4.

[11]      Submission 13, p. 7.

[12]      Submission 13, p. 7.

[13]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 4.

[14]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 57.

[15]      Submission 13, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 3. See also: Mr Mitch Williams, MP, South Australian Shadow Minister for Water Security, Submission 24, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5.

[16]      Submission 14, p. 1. See also: Mr Mitch Williams, MP, South Australian Shadow Minister for Water Security, Submission 24, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5; and Bruce and Annette Allnutt, Submission 29, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 1.

[17]      Submission 8, p. 3. See also: Mr David Tipping, Submission 16, p. 14.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 20. See also: Mrs Deborah Kerr, National Farmers' Federation, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, pp 11-12; and Ms Beverly Smiles, Inland Rivers Network, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 50. The focus of the discussion on this issue in the inquiry was in relation to the Australian Government's water entitlement buyback policy, Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin, and infrastructure program, the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program. This issue is discussed further in Chapter 5 of the report.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 26.

[20]      Submission 6, pp 1-2.

[21]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 47.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 47-48.

[23]      Section 100 of the Constitution provides: The Commonwealth shall not, by any law or regulation of trade or commerce, abridge the right of a State or of the residents therein to the reasonable use of the waters of rivers for conservation or irrigation.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 48.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 49.

[26]      Coorong, Lakes and Murray Waterkeeper, Submission 57, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 9.

[27]      Bruce and Annette Allnutt, Submission 29, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 1.

[28]      Acheron Valley Watch Inc, Submission 44, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 4 (emphasis in original). See also: Mr Kenneth Pattison, Plug the Pipe, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, pp 40-41. The committee's report into water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes discusses the development of the pipeline from the Goulburn River to the Sugarloaf Reservoir to supply water to Melbourne. See: Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes (including consideration of the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008, October 2008, pp 47-48.

[29]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, pp 58-59.

[30]      Submission 15, p. 6.

[31]      Submission 15, pp 6-7, and 12. See also: Inland Rivers Network, Submission 9, p. 2; and National Parks Association of NSW, Submission 10, pp 10-11.

[32]      Submission 15, pp 4-5.

Chapter 3 - Implementation of the Basin Plan and water sharing arrangements

[1]        Explanatory Memorandum, Water Bill 2007, p. 3.

[2]        Water Act 2007, s.22 and s.86B.

[3]        Water Act 2007, s.42.

[4]        Water Act 2007, s.43.

[5]        Water Act 2007, s.43A.

[6]        Water Act 2007, s.44.

[7]        Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform (IGA), clause 11.1.

[8]        Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5.

[9]        Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 75.

[10]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 23.

[11]      The Australian Network of Environmental Defender's Offices, Submission 11, p. 2. See also: Professor Diane Bell, Submission 46, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 6; Coorong, Lakes and Murray Waterkeeper, Submission 57, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 9.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 21.

[13]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 21-22.

[14]      Mr Stewart Ellis, Murray Irrigation Ltd, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 16.

[15]      Submission 13, p. 7. See also: Cotton Australia, Submission 50, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5; Mr Andrew Gregson, NSW Irrigators Council, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 33.

[16]      Submission 1, p. 2.

[17]      Submission 71, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 8. See also: Conservation Council of South Australia, Submission 14, p. 7; Dr Arlene Buchan, Australian Conservation Foundation, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, pp 18-19.

[18]      Submission 71, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 18.

[19]      Submission 1, p. 2.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 75.

[21]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, pp 52-53.

[22]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 6. See also: Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, Submission 12, pp 2-3.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 39. See also: Dr Arlene Buchan, Australian Conservation Foundation, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, pp 18-19.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 59.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 53.

[26]      Mr Tony Slatyer, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, pp 74-75. See also: Mr Rob Freeman, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 57.

[27]      Submission 13, p. 7 (emphasis in original).

[28]      Submission 50, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5.

[29]      Mr David Harriss, New South Wales Department of Water and Energy, Committee Hansard, 18 September 2008, p. 31.

[30]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 57.

Chapter 4 - Long-term prospects for the management of Ramsar wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin

[1]        Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) website: http://www.ramsar.org/.

[2]        Ramsar Convention, Ramsar information paper No. 4: The List of Wetlands of International Importance ('Ramsar List'). Available at: http://www.ramsar.org/about/info2007-04-e.pdf.

[3]        Australian Bureau of Statistics, Water and the Murray-Darling Basin, A Statistical Profile, 2000–01 to 2005–06, 15 August 2008, p. 20. Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4610.0.55.007Main+Features12000-01%20to%202005-06?OpenDocument.

[4]        See Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes (including consideration of the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008, October 2008, pp 21-24.

[5]        Submission 10, p. 2.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 105.

[7]        Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform (IGA), Preamble, paragraph 2.

[8]        Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 10.

[9]        Department of the Environment, Water, Heritages and the Arts (DEWHA), National Report on the Implementation of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: National Report to be submitted to the 10^th Meeting of the Conference of Contracting Parties, Republic of Korea, 28 October – 4 November 2008 (2008 Report to Ramsar Secretariat), p. 15. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/ramsar-report10.html.

[10]      Submission 2, p. 5.

[11]      Submission 13, p. 8.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 17.

[13]      Submission 4, p. 1.

[14]      Mr Tony Slatyer, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 74. See also: Sarah Moles, Submission 1, p. 5.

[15]      2008 Report to Ramsar Secretariat, p. 15.

[16]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 10.

[17]      The National Framework and Guidelines for Describing the Ecological Character of Australian Ramsar Wetlands is the second module under the National Guidelines for Ramsar Wetlands – Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia, which is discussed in paragraph 4.31 below.

[18]      The six Icon sites are: Barmah-Millewa Forest; Gunbower and Koondrook-Perricoota Forests; Hattah Lakes; Chowilla Floodplain and Lindsay-Wallpolla Islands; Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth; and the River Murray Channel. The February 2009 progress report on the Living Murray Initiative stated that 167.68 gigalitres of water has been recovered. See Murray-Darling Basin Authority, The Living Murray: Environmental Water Recovery Progress Report, February 2009, p.2. Available at: http://www.mdba.gov.au/files/TLM_WR_prog_rep_FEB09.pdf.

[19]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, pp 10-11.

[20]      Submission 9, Attachment: Protecting Australia's Endangered Wetlands: A Proposal for a National Wetlands Initiative, p. 2.

[21]      Submission 1, p. 5.

[22]      Submission 12, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5.

[23]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the Inquiry, p. 11.

[24]      DEWHA, answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 9 April 2009); and Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 11.

[25]      Submission 10, p. 6.

[26]      Dr Bill Phillips, Mainstream Environmental Consulting and Riversmart Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 107.

[27]      W. Phillips and K. Muller, Ecological Character Description: Coorong, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland of International Importance, South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage, 2006, p. 8. Available at: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/pdfs/coorong_exec_summary.pdf.

[28]      Submission 9, Attachment: Protecting Australia's Endangered Wetlands: A Proposal for a National Wetlands Initiative, pp 1-2. The IRN's National Wetlands Initiative was also supported by the National Parks Association of NSW, Submission 10, p. 1.

[29]      Submission 10, pp 2-3.

[30]      Submission 1, p. 5. Section 16 of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 imposes approval requirements on activities that are likely to have a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland. See also: Mainstream Consulting and RiverSmart Australia, Submission 12 to Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5.

[31]      2008 Report to Ramsar Secretariat, p. 12.

[32]      BMT WBM Pty Limited for the Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Ramsar Snapshot Study – Final Report 2007 (Ramsar Snapshot Study), released 2 February 2009. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/ramsar-snapshot-study.html.

[33]      Ramsar Snapshot Study, p. I.

[34]      Ramsar Snapshot Study, p. I.

[35]      Ramsar Snapshot Study, p. IV.

Chapter 5 - Environmental water in the Murray-Darling Basin

[1]        Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), Water for the Future: Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin Program Factsheet, March 2009. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/mdb/pubs/restoring-balance.pdf.

[2]        DEWHA website, Outcomes from 2007-08 Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin Program (water entitlement purchasing, updated 1 June 2009. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/policy-programs/entitlement-purchasing/2007-08.html.

[3]        The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister, and Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, 'Historic purchase of water for the environment', Media Release, 28 May 2009.

[4]        DEWHA website, Water entitlement buyback in the Murray-Darling Basin (water buybacks), updated 24 April 2009. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/mdb/entitlement-purchasing/index.html.

[5]        See: Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Annual Report 2007-08, p. 20, available at: http://www.mdbc.gov.au/subs/annual_reports/AR_2007-08/pdf/MDBC-AR-0708.pdf. For general information on The Living Murray Initiative see: http://www.mdba.gov.au/programs/tlm.

[6]        DEWHA website, Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/programs/srwui/index.html.

[7]        See Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform (IGA), clause 4.11.

[8]        DEWHA website, Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/programs/srwui/index.html.

[9]        The Torrumbarry Irrigation Area encompasses the Cohuna, Kerang and Swan Hill regions from the Torrumbarry Weir to Nyah.

[10]      The Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment and Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, 'Commonwealth and NSW purchase Toorale', Joint Media Release PW 175/08, 10 September 2008.

[11]      Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, 'Toorale purchase delivers 11.4 billion extra litres of water for the Darling River', Media Release PW 57/09, 4 March 2009.

[12]      Mr Geoff Williams, Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport CommitteeCommittee – Murray Darling Basin inquiry, 12 March 2009 – Teleconference Link, Powerpoint presentation, tabled 16 March 2009, pp 10-13. See also: Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), Land and water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin, 16 October 2008, pp 4-5, tabled 10 March 2009.

[13]      See Mr Geoff Williams, Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, pp 22, 25-27. For more information on the Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP), see the NVIRP website: http://www.nvirp.com.au/index.html.

[14]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 50.

[15]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 53. See also: Inland Rivers Network (IRN), Submission 9, p. 2.

[16]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 91.

[17]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 11.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 10.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 10.

[20]      ACF, Land and water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin, 16 October 2008, pp 1-2, tabled 10 March 2009.

[21]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 30.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 10. See also Ms Louise Burge, NSW Farmers Association, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 15; Mr Trevor Randall, Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p.34.

[23]      The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists (Wentworth Group), Opening Statement, tabled 10 March 2009, p. 3. See also: Mrs Deborah Kaulder, Australian Floodplain Association, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, pp 48-49; Dr John Williams, Wentworth Group, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 51; IRN, Submission 69, Part 1 of the inquiry, Attachment: IRN and ACF, Opportunities to deliver immediate & ongoing water for the ecological crisis in the internationally significant Lower Lakes and Coorong, p. 4.

[24]      Ms Mary Harwood, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2007, p. 18.

[25]      Ms Mary Harwood, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, pp 16-17.

[26]      Submission 71, Part 1 of the inquiry, pp 15-16. The Wentworth Group's proposal for an Interim Basin Plan is discussed in Chapter 3.

[27]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 27. See also: National Farmers' Federation (NFF), Submission 13, p. 8.

[28]      See: The Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes (including consideration of the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008), October 2008, pp 38-39.

[29]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 43.

[30]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 26. See also: Professor Mike Young, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, pp 27 and 31.

[31]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 26.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, pp 19-20.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 54.

[34]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, pp 6-7.

[35]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 18. See also: Mr Bruce Brown, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 20; Murray-Darling Basin Water Crisis Management Council, Submission 61, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 5.

[36]      Mr Geoff Wise, General Manager, Bourke Shire Council, Draft Report prepared by Bourke Shire Council for the property Toorale, 21 September 2008. Tabled 16 March 2009.

[37]      Mr Geoff Wise, General Manager, Bourke Shire Council, Structural Adjustments for the Bourke community to deliver social, economic and cultural offsets to address land use change at Toorale, 21 October 2008. Tabled 16 March 2009.

[38]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, pp 32 and 37.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, pp 23-24.

[40]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 3; and DEWHA, Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 9 April 2009).

[41]      Water Act 2007, s. 21(4)(c)(v).

[42]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 54.

[43]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 11. See also: Mr John Clements, Namoi Water, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, pp 18-19.

[44]      Murray Darling Basin Commission, Brief assessment of the merits of purchasing water entitlements during a time of low water availability, April 2008. Available at: http://www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au/__data/page/1327/SERPadvice_water_purchases.pdf.

[45]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 11. See: Report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, National Water Commission and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, The Economic and Social Impacts of Water Trading: Case studies in the Victorian Murray Valley, September 2007. Available at: http://www.nwc.gov.au/resources/documents/Economic-Social-impacts-Water-Trading-PUB-1107.pdf.

[46]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 17.

[47]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 49. See also: Ms Amy Hankinson, IRN, Committee Hansard, 18 September 2008, p. 22; Ms Ilona Millar, Wentworth Group, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 26; Dr Arlene Buchan, ACF, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 29; and Mr Terence Korn, Australian Floodplain Association, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 40.

[48]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 3. Words in bold indicate a correction to the proof hansard received from the witness. See also: Mr Andrew Gregson, NSW Irrigators Council, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 44.

[49]      Committee Hansard, 18 September 2008, p. 17. See also: Ms Ilona Millar, Wentworth Group, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 30; Dr Arlene Buchan, ACF, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 18; Australian Network of Environmental Defender's Officers, Submission 11, p. 3.

[50]      Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 30.

[51]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 5.

[52]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, pp 91-92.

[53]      Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 18 March 2009).

[54]      Answers to questions on notice, 10 March 2009 (received 23 March 2009). Emphasis in original.

[55]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 31.

[56]      Answers to questions on notice, 10 March 2009 (received 23 March 2009). See also: Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 31.

[57]      Ms Mary Harwood, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 16.

[58]      Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 9 April 2009).

[59]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, pp 35-36. See also: Mr Geoff Williams, TRAMS Working Group, Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 26.

[60]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 29. Mr Kent Martin, South Australian Farmers Federation, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 88; IRN, Submission 69, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 3.

[61]      Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, pp 19-20; and Submission 71, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 15.

[62]      See for example: Mr Peter Cosier, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 25; Ms Ilona Millar, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 26. For more information on the acceleration of the Water Entitlement Buyback, see: The Hon. Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia, 'New measures to deal with the critical situation in the Murray-Darling Basin', Media Release, 14 August 2008,

[63]      Submission 71, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 15.

[64]      See: Senator Nick Xenophon, Senate Hansard, 12 February 2009, p. 971; Appropriation Act (No. 6) 2008-09, Schedule 2; The Hon. Mr Gary Gray, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, House of Representatives Main Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 2765.

[65]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 21.

[66]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 32. See also: Mr John Clements, Namoi Water, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 21, who indicated that a four per cent cap may not be inappropriate if all States had a similar cap. The fact that the cap did not exist in New South Wales meant that the obvious outcome is that more water entitlements will be purchased by the Commonwealth in New South Wales compared to Victoria.

[67]      Professor Young notes that analysis suggests that in order to secure a low chance of restoring health to the Southern Connected Murray System, at least 15 per cent of all entitlements need to be held by environmental water holders. However, it also needs to be taken into account that some contribution to environmental water supplies will be made by programs such as the Living Murray Initiative and water efficiency improvements from the Infrastructure Program.

[68]      Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 18 March 2009).

[69]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 29.

[70]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 29.

[71]      The Hon. Phillip Costa, NSW Minister for Water and Regional Development, 'NSW Government to guarantee environmental water purchasing is fair', Media Release, 28 May 2009.

[72]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 28

[73]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 29, See also: Ms Beverly Smiles, IRN, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 45, who provided an example of shepherding environmental water through the Macquarie Valley.

[74]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, pp 30- 31.

[75]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 29

[76]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 56.

[77]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 26.

[78]      Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 15. See also: Mr Dick Thompson, Murrumbidgee Irrigation Ltd, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 29.

[79]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p.10.

[80]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 6.

[81]      Mr Tony Slatyer, DEWHA, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 87.

[82]      See for example: Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, 'Next water buyback tender to open 15 September', Media Release PW 167/08, 8 September 2008; DEWHA, Water for the Future: Restoring the Balance in the Basin Factsheet, March 2009. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/mdb/pubs/restoring-balance.pdf.

[83]      See for example: Ms Jenni Matilla, Bondi Group and National Irrigation Corporation Water Entitlements Register, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 65; Dr Arlene Buchan, ACF, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 20; Mr Richard Anderson, Victorian Farmers Federation, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 93; and Mr Terence Korn, Australian Floodplain Association, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 41.

[84]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 12. See also: Mr Kenneth Pattison, Plug the Pipe, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 41.

[85]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 26.

[86]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, pp 3-4

[87]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 3.

[88]      Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 31 March 2009).

[89]      Clause 4.11.2

[90]      Clause 4.5.3

[91]      Clause 4.13

[92]      Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 31 March 2009).

[93]      Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 31 March 2009).

[94]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 3. See also: Mr Richard Anderson, Victorian Farmers Federation, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 93.

[95]      Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 31 March 2009).

[96]      See: Mr Stewert Ellis, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, pp 15-16.

Chapter 6 - The impacts of climate change and the likely future availability of water in the Murray-Darling Basin

[1]        Submission 1A, Part 1 of the Inquiry, p. 14.

[2]        For information on the CSIRO's Sustainable Yields Project see: http://www.csiro.au/partnerships/MDBSY.html.

[3]        See for example: Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Submission 4, p. 3; Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, Submission 12, p.6.

[4]        CSIRO, Water Availability in the Murray-Darling Basin: A report from CSIRO to the Australian Government (Sustainable Yields Project Report), 2008, p. 28. The relative level of use is the ratio of surface water use to surface water availability, see Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 32.

[5]        Sustainable Yields Project Report, 2008, p. 5.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 2.

[7]        Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 38. Annual surface water use includes diversions for irrigation, rural stock and domestic use and urban town supply, the pipe and channel losses associated with this supply, and the eventual stream flow impacts of groundwater extraction. The assessment also includes additional farm dams and commercial plantation forestry. See Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 32.

[8]        Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 8.

[9]        Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 8.

[10]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 10.

[11]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, pp 15-16.

[12]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, pp 47, and 49.

[13]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 52.

[14]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 52.

[15]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 52.

[16]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 53.

[17]      Submission 2, p. 5.

[18]      Submission 4, p. 2.

[19]      Submission 4, p. 3.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 14

[21]      Submission 71, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 12. See also: Dr John Williams, Wentworth Group, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, pp 49-50.

[22]      Submission 71, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 1.

[23]      Submission 71, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 1. See also: Mr Peter Cosier, Wentworth Group, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 46.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 43.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 25-26.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 25-26. See also: Dr John Williams, Wentworth Group, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, pp 47-48.

[27]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 8.

[28]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 9.

[29]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 8.

[30]      Professor Mike Young and Mr Jim McColl, Grounding Connectivity: Do rivers have aquifier rights?, Droplet No. 13, 28 September 2008, tabled 13 March 2009.

[31]      Sustainable Yields Project Report, p. 10.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 53.

Chapter 7 - Unregulated water interception activities

[1]        Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (NWI), paragraph 55.

[2]        Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 12.

[3]        Submission 2, p. 5. See also: Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 12.

[4]        Submission 2, pp. 5-6.

[5]        Submission 4, p. 2.

[6]        Submission 13, p. 9. The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) contend that with the implementation of floodplain harvesting legislation in NSW there is no 'unregulated' water interception activities in that State. The NFF also state that all flood plain harvesting in Queensland is regulated or authorised. See Submission 13, pp 8-9.

[7]        Submission 2, p. 6.

[8]        Submission 14, p. 8.

[9]        Submission 12, pp 4-5.

[10]      Submission 1, p. 6.

[11]      NWI, paragraph 56.

[12]      NWI, paragraph 57.

[13]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 13.

[14]      National Water Commission, National Water Initiative: First Biennial Assessment of Progress in Implementation, 2007, p. 3.

[15]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 13.

[16]      Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 13.

[17]      Submission 4, p. 3.

[18]      Submission 4, p. 3.

[19]      Submission 4, p. 4.

[20]      Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Risks to Shared Water Resources. FAQ: Murray-Darling Basin Risks Strategy, May 2008, p. 2.

[21]      DEWHA, Submission 1A, Part 1 of the inquiry, pp 13-14. However, the Water Act 2007 provides for a greater Commonwealth role through the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in the enforcement of illegal taking of water in the MDB, once the Basin Plan is in place and current plans expire.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, pp 47-48. See also: Ms Sarah Moles, Submission 1, p. 6.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 38. See also: Mrs Deborah Kaluder, Australian Floodplain Association, Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 50.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 42.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 8.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 24.

[27]      NSW Department of Water and Energy, Floodplain harvesting policy to provide security for NSW rivers and communities, Media Release, 3 July 2008.

[28]      NSW Department of Water and Energy, Floodplain harvesting policy to provide security for NSW rivers and communities, Media Release, 3 July 2008.

[29]      Submission 9, Attachment: Inland Rivers Network, Submission to Department of Water and Energy on Draft Floodplain Harvesting Policy, 2008, pp 1-2.

[30]      Answers to Questions on Notice, 18 September 2008 (received 9 October 2008).

[31]      Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, Overland flow water: Fact sheet, September 2008; Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, Submission 12, p. 4; and Mr Greg Claydon, Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 48.

[32]      Submission 12, p. 4. See also: NFF, Submission 13, p. 9.

[33]      Mr Scott Spencer, Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 52.

[34]      See R Kingsford and A Roff, A case study: floodplain development on the Paroo River. The last free flowing river in the Murray-Darling Basin, August 2008, pp 3-5.

[35]      Answers to Questions on Notice, 9 September 2008.

[36]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 17.

Chapter 8 - Other issues

[1]        National Water Commission, National Water Initiative: First Biennial Assessment of Progress in Implementation, 2007, p. 3.

[2]        National Water Commission, National Water Initiative: First Biennial Assessment of Progress in Implementation, 2007, p. 7.

[3]        National Water Commission, Update of progress in water reform: Input into the water subgroup stocktake report (NWC Update on Water Reform), 15 February 2008, p. 19. Available at: http://www.nwc.gov.au/www/html/692-coag-update-report-on-water-reform.asp?intSiteID=1.

[4]        NWC Update on Water Reform, p. 20.

[5]        Submission 12, p. 5.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 51.

[7]        Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, pp 47-48. See also: Professor Mike Young, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 21.

[8]        Submission 13, p. 9.

[9]        NWC Update on Water Reform, p. 20.

[10]      MainStream Environmental Consulting and RiverSmart Australia, Submission 12, Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 4. See also: Ms Sarah Moles, Submission 1, p. 1.

[11]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 26.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 100.

[13]      Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, p. 96.

[14]      Ms Sarah Moles, Submission 1, p. 6.

[15]      Submission 1, p. 6. See also Environment and Property Protection Association, Submission 7.

[16]      Submission 10, pp 6-10.

[17]      Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 22; see also Ms Amy Hankinson, Inland Rivers Network, Committee Hansard, 18 September 2008, p. 17.

[18]      See for example: Professor Mike Young, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 30; Dr Arlene Buchan, Australian Conservation Foundation, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 32. This issue is discussed further in Chapter 5 of this report.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 93.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 5.

[21]      See: The Hon. Mr Mike Rann, Premier, South Australia, Ministerial Statement, House of Assembly Hansard, 5 March 2009, pp 1885-1887.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 35.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 7.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 16.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2009, p. 16.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, p. 4. See also: Dr Tom Hatton, CSIRO, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2008, pp 23 and 28; Dr Kerri Muller, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2008, pp 10-11; the Hon. Karlene Maywald, Committee Hansard, 19 September 2008, p. 39; and Conservation Council of South Australia, Submission 14, p. 7.

[27]      Submission 40 to Part 1 of the inquiry, p. 7.

[28]      Submission 9, p. 1.

[29]      Submission 9, pp 1-2.

[30]      Submission 2, p. 6. This issue is discussed in greater detail in Chapter 6 of this report.

[31]      Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 9.

[32]      Answers to questions on notice, 13 March 2009 (received 31 March 2009).

Chapter 9

[1]        Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes (including consideration of the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008, October 2008, p. 50.

Minority Report - Australian Labor Party

[1]        Darling Basin Ministerial Council Meeting No 1, 12 June, Sydney, Communiqué. Available at: http://www.mdba.gov.au/system/files/MinCo-1-communique.pdf

[2]        Committee Hansard, 26 September 2008, p. 57.

[3]        See Dr Bill Young, Committee Hansard, 16 March 2009, p. 9 and Mr Rob Freeman, Committee Hansard, 13 March 2009, p. 53.