Footnotes

Membership of the committee

[1] Please note, for this interim report, committee membership is listed from 1 December 2011 onwards.

Chapter 1 - Introduction and background

[1]        Note: for the purposes of the report, the Guide to the Proposed Basin Plan will be referred to as 'the Guide' and the various iterations of the Proposed Basin Plan will be referred to as 'the Basin Plan'. Where it is necessary to refer to the specific iterations of the Basin Plan, they will be identified by the month of release i.e. the Basin Plan (November 2011), the Basin Plan (May 2012), and the Basin Plan (August 2012). Please note that where direct quotes are used the original nomenclature remains.  

[2]        Note: at the time this interim report was finalised, the final Basin Plan had not been introduced into Parliament. As such, this report provides comment only on the Basin Plan provided to Minister Burke on 28 August 2012 as well as its various precursors.

[3]        The dredging of the Murray River mouth began in October 2002 and was stopped in December 2010 as part of the 'return of higher flows' to the river. See: www.waterforgood.sa.gov.au/rivers-reservoirs-aquifers/lower-lakes-coorong/murray-mouth-sand-pumping-project/ (accessed 20 September 2012).

[4]        Note: there is some discussion of the Nimmie-Caira buyback program in chapter 2.

[5]        Note: there is some discussion of water types in chapters 2 and 4 regarding how the different categories of water licences are considered in the modelling of the 2750 GL/y reduction in take and its socio‑economic impacts on the Basin.

[6]        MDBA, Guide to the proposed Basin Plan, Volume 1, Overview, 8 October 2010, p. xi.

[7]        ABS, Completing the Picture - Environmental Accounting in Practice, 4628.0.55.001, May 2012, p. 66.

[8]        See, for example, MDBA, Proposed Basin Plan consultation report, May 2012, p. 4; www.waterforgood.sa.gov.au/rivers-reservoirs-aquifers/lower-lakes-coorong/murray-mouth-sand-pumping-project/ (accessed 20 September 2012).

[9]        MDBA, Revised Draft of the Proposed Basin Plan, May 2012, p. 194.

[10]      Section 3 of the Water Act 2007.

[11]      Section 3 of the Water Act 2007. The legislative objectives are discussed in further detail in Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, A Balancing Act: provisions of the Water Act 2007, June 2011.

[12]      MDBA, Basin Guide released for public consultation, 8 October 2010, www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/media_releases/basin-plan-guide-released-for-public-discussion, (accessed 17 September 2012).

[13]      MDBA, Guide to the proposed Basin Plan, Volume 1, Overview, 8 October 2010, pp 125–128.

[14]      MDBA, Guide to the proposed Basin Plan, Volume 1, Overview, 8 October 2010, p. xxi.

[15]      House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia, Of drought and flooding rain, 2 June 2011, www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=ra/murraydarling/report.htm.  

[16]      MDBA, Delivering a Healthy Working Basin: about the draft Basin Plan, November 2011, p. 33.

[17]      MDBA, Plain English summary of the proposed Basin Plan, November 2011, p. vii.

[18]      Goulburn-Murray Water, Proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan Submission, April 2012, www.g-mwater.com.au/downloads/media-releases/Goulburn-Murray_Water_Proposed_Murray_Darling_Basin_Plan_Submission.pdf , p. 19; MDBA, http://freeflow.mdba.gov.au/2012/01/25/more-public-meetings-scheduled/ (accessed 2 October 2012); MDBA, http://freeflow.mdba.gov.au/2011/11/25/public-meetings-scheduled-so-far/ (accessed 2 October 2012).

[19]      MDBA, Proposed Basin Plan – a revised draft, May 2012, http://download.mdba.gov.au/revised-BP/PBP_reviseddraft.pdf.

[20]      MDBA, Addendum to the proposed Groundwater Baseline and Sustainable Diversion Limits: Methods Report, July 2012, p. 2.

[21]      MDBA, Changes to the draft Basin Plan released, 28 May 2012, www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/media_releases/changes-to-the-draft-basin-plan-released, (accessed 17 September 2012).

[22]      MDBA, Attachment A – Council as a whole comments, 9 July 2012, http://download.mdba.gov.au/revised-BP/AttachmentA_Main.pdf, (accessed 17 September 2012).

[23]      Note: see Ministerial Council state specific comments, 9 July 2012, Attachments D, F and G. www.mdba.gov.au/proposed-basin-plan.

[24]       http://www.mdba.gov.au/have-your-say/view-submission (accessed 25 September 2012).

[25]      The Hon. Craig Knowles, Transmittal letter to the Hon. Tony Burke MP, 6 August 2012, http://download.mdba.gov.au/altered-PBP/APBP-Transmission-letter-from-MDBA-Chair-to-Minister-Burke-06-August-2012.pdf, (accessed 17 August 2012).

[26]      The Hon. Craig Knowles, Transmittal letter to the Hon. Tony Burke MP, 6 August 2012, http://download.mdba.gov.au/altered-PBP/APBP-Transmission-letter-from-MDBA-Chair-to-Minister-Burke-06-August-2012.pdf, p. 2 (accessed 17 August 2012).

[27]      The Hon. Craig Knowles, Transmittal letter to the Hon. Tony Burke MP, 6 August 2012, http://download.mdba.gov.au/altered-PBP/APBP-Transmission-letter-from-MDBA-Chair-to-Minister-Burke-06-August-2012.pdf, (accessed 17 August 2012).

[28]      MDBA, Statement from the Chair, www.mdba.gov.au/files/MR-statement-from-chair_v02_2012-08-28.pdf, (accessed 17 September 2012).

[29]      The Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Media Release, Government working closely with states on basin plan, 28 August 2012, www.environment.gov.au/minister/burke/2012/mr20120828.html, (accessed 17 September 2012).

[30]      ABC News PM, Environment Minister still not happy with rivers plan, 6 August 2012, www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3561783.htm, (accessed 20 September 2012).

[31]      ABC Rural, Murray-Darling basin plan will be signed off before end of year: Burke, 7 August 2012, www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201208/s3562362.htm, (accessed 20 September 2012).

Chapter 2 - Surface water

[1]        MDBA, Draft Basin Plan Chapter Summary – Schedule 3, www.mdba.gov.au/draft-basin-plan/draft-basin-plan-chapter-summary/schedule03 (accessed 2 August 2012); For a glossary of terms see: www.mdba.gov.au/draft-basin-plan/draft-basin-plan-chapter-summary/glossary#environmentally_sustainable_level_of_take (accessed 21 September 2012).

[2]        See: MDBA, Schedule 3, Proposed Basin Plan 2012, August 2012, pp 169–191.

[3]        MDBA, Proposed Basin Plan 2012, s. 6.04. Note: although a legislative instrument, the Proposed Basin Plan is made up of 'sections'. The Basin Plan itself states this at subsection 1.05(2).

[4]        MDBA, Plain English summary of the proposed Basin Plan – including explanatory notes, November 2011, p. vii; and Water Act 2007, s. 64.

[5]        SDL Resource Unit: describes a geographical area which contains a set of water resources. Boundaries of surface water SDL resource units are generally based on catchments, while boundaries of ground water SDL resource units are based on hydrogeology and existing state planning boundaries (see Chapter 6 of Proposed Basin Plan).

[6]        MDBA, Proposed Basin Plan – revised draft, 28 May 2012, Chapter 6, Division 2, p. 27.

[7]        Water Resource Plans: set out how water resources will be managed, usually for a 10-year period. They will be developed by the Basin states or in certain circumstances by MDBA, for approval by the Commonwealth Water Minister (see the glossary of the Proposed Basin Plan www.mdba.gov.au/draft-basin-plan/draft-basin-plan-chapter-summary/glossary#environmentally_sustainable_level_of_take (accessed 21 September 2012)).

[8]        MDBA, The proposed 'environmentally sustainable level of take' for surface water in the Murray-Darling Basin: methods and outcomes, November 2011, p. iii.

[9]        MDBA, Proposed Basin Plan – revised draft, 28 May 2012, Chapter 6, Division 2, p. 27.

[10]      MDBA, The Socio-economic implications of the proposed Basin Plan, May 2012, pp 1–2.

[11]      MDBA, answer to question on notice, 24 April 2012, (received 7 June 2012).

[12]      MDBA, answer to question on notice, 24 April 2012, (received 7 June 2012).

[13]      MDBA, answer to question on notice, 24 April 2012, (received 7 June 2012).

[14]      This was particularly an issue for witnesses in Hay/Mildura see, for example, Mr John Culleton, CEO, Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative Limited, Committee Hansard, 2 April 2012, p. 29. Although the National Irrigators' Council stated that the MDBA consulted well on the modelling, it did note the significant difficulties in dealing with the vast quantities of documentation on the website, Mr Tom Chesson, CEO, National Irrigators' Council, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 53.

[15]      Young WJ, Bond N, Brookes J, Gawne B and Jones GJ, Science Review of the estimation of an environmentally sustainable level of take for the Murray-Darling Basin. A report to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority from the CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, November 2011, p. 31.  Note: the 2800 GL/y was reviewed by the MDB prior to the release of the 2750 GL/y figure.

[16]      Dr John Williams, Member, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 14.

[17]      Mr Tim Stubbs, Environmental Engineer, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 18.

[18]      The MDBA's comments regarding sensitivity analysis and the reason for not modelling other scenarios can be found in: Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, pp 78–80 and 23 August 2012 p. 12.

[19]      MDBA, Plain English summary of the proposed Basin Plan – including explanatory notes, November 2011, p 109.

[20]      MDBA, Guide to the proposed Basin Plan, 2010, Canberra, p. 33.

[21]      MDBA, Guide to the proposed Basin Plan, 2010, Canberra, p. 34.

[22]      See for example, Ms Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner, Environment Victoria, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 25; and Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Statement on the 2011 draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan, November 2011, p. 19.

[23]      Professor Ross Garnaut, The Garnaut Climate Change Review: Final Report, Cambridge University Press, 2008, p. 109.

[24]      Chiew FHS, Vaze J, Viney NR, Jordan PW, Perraud J-M, Zhang L, Teng J, Young WJ, Penaarancibia J, Morden RA, Freebairn A, Austin J, Hill PI, Wiesenfeld CR and Murphy R, Rainfall-runoff modelling across the Murray-Darling Basin. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project. CSIRO, 2008, p. 13.

[25]      Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Evaluation of Proposed Basin Plan, August 2012, p. 4.

[26]      House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia, Of drought and flooding rains: Inquiry into the impact of the Guide to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, May 2011, p. xvii.

[27]      Professor Mike Young, "Droplet No. 20: Which is better – The Existing or Proposed Administrative Arrangements for the MDB Basin?", April 2012, p. 3. This quote above was also read into the Hansard by Senator Nick Xenophon on 24 April 2012. See Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 8.

[28]      Chiew FHS, Teng J, Kirono D, Frost AJ, Bathols JM, Vaze J, Viney NR, Young WJ, Hennessy KJ and Cai WJ Climate data for hydrologic scenario modelling across the Murray-Darling Basin. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project. CSIRO, June 2008, [p. iv]; SEWPaC, Progress of water recovery under the Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin program, http://www.environment.gov.au/water/policy-programs/entitlement-purchasing/progress.html, (accessed 2 October 2012).

[29]      Dr Tony McLeod, General Manager, Water Resource Planning, MDBA, Committee Hansard, 23 August 2012, pp 15–17.

[30]      Mr Tim Stubbs, Environmental Engineer, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 16.

[31]      Dr Tony McLeod, General Manager, Water Resource Planning, MDBA, Committee Hansard, 23 August 2012, pp 15–17.

[32]      SEWPaC, answer to question on notice, 24 April 2012, (received 2 July 2012).

[33]      See http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2012/09/0730-abc-riverina-news-25092012.html (accessed 25 September 2012).

[34]      SEWPaC, Progress of water recovery under the Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin program, http://www.environment.gov.au/water/policy-programs/entitlement-purchasing/progress.html, (accessed 2 October 2012).

[35]      See: NSW Legislative Assembly, Return to Order - Nimmie-Caira System Enhanced Environmental Water Delivery Project - Clerk tabled documents received on Thursday 20 September 2012 from the Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, together with an indexed list of documents, www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/lc/lctabdoc.nsf/cccc870c6126b1b6ca2571ee000318a4/8a60bb511edeacd8ca257a7f00209cd5/$FILE/Index%20-%20Nimmie-Caira%20System%20Enhanced%20Environmental%20Water%20Delivery%20Project.pdf (accessed 28 September 2012).

[36]      Mr David Harriss, Commissioner, NSW Office of Water, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 40.

[37]      ANAO, Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin, Audit Report no. 27 2010-11, 2011, p. 95.

[38]      Mr David Harriss, Commissioner and Mr Stephen Raft, Coordinator, State Priority Projects, NSW Office of Water, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, pp 41-42.

[39]      Mr David Harriss, Commissioner, NSW Office of Water, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012 p. 42.

[40]      MDBA, High Level Summary of the Basin Ministers’ collective comments on the Proposed Basin Plan, 28 August 2012. http://download.mdba.gov.au/BM_responses/Ministers_comments_28-08-2012.doc (accessed 17 September 2012).  

[41]      MDBA, High Level Summary of the Basin Ministers’ collective comments on the Proposed Basin Plan, 28 August 2012. http://download.mdba.gov.au/BM_responses/Ministers_comments_28-08-2012.doc (accessed 17 September 2012).  

[42]      MDBA, High Level Summary of the Basin Ministers’ collective comments on the Proposed Basin Plan, 28 August 2012. http://download.mdba.gov.au/BM_responses/Ministers_comments_28-08-2012.doc (accessed 17 September 2012).  

[43]      The relevant amendment was put forward in the Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012.

[44]      Mr Russell James, Executive Director, Policy and Planning, MDBA, Committee Hansard, 23 August 2012, p. 12.

[45]      See for example, Mr Tim Stubbs, Environmental Engineer, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 17; Mr Peter Cosier, Director, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 17.

Chapter 3 - Ground water

[1]        MDBA, Addendum to the proposed Groundwater Baseline and Sustainable Diversion Limits Method Report, July 2012, p. 21.

[2]        Note: the basin-wide groundwater BDL was not set out in the Addendum Report, the ground water BDLs are set out in the August Altered Proposed Plan according to each ground water SDL resource unit.

[3]        A breakdown of the changes is provided by Friends of the Earth, Basin Plan Groundwater Diversion Limits: Comparing the "Guide" and the Proposed Basin Plan, document tabled at committee hearing, 24 April 2012.

[4]        Mr Tim Kelly, Chief Executive, Conservation Council of South Australia, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 24.

[5]        NWC, Groundwater-Surface Water Connectivity, 13 December 2011, http://nwc.gov.au/groundwater/connectivity, (accessed 14 September 2012).

[6]        Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Committee, Management of the Murray Darling Basin Interim report: the impact of mining coal seam gas on the management of the Murray Darling Basin, 30 November 2011, pp 17–37.

[7]        CSIRO, Water Availability in the Murray-Darling Basin, A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Murray-Darling Sustainable Yields Project, October 2008, p. 47.

[8]        Ms Beverley Smiles, President, Inland Rivers Network, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 20.

[9]        NWC, Groundwater-Surface Water Connectivity, 13 December 2011, http://nwc.gov.au/groundwater/connectivity, (accessed 14 September 2012).

[10]      MDBA, The Proposed Groundwater Baseline and Sustainable Diversion Limits: Methods Report, 2012, p. 1.

[11]      Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Analysis of Groundwater in the 2011 Draft Murray‑Darling Basin Plan, April 2012, p. 3.

[12]      Dr Bill Young, Director, Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, CSIRO, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 62

[13]      MDBA, Delivering a Healthy Working Basin: about the draft Basin Plan, November 2011, p. 33.

[14]      Ms Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner, Environment Victoria, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 25.

[15]      MDBA, Addendum to the proposed Groundwater Baseline and Sustainable Diversion Limits: Methods Report, July 2012, p. 5.

[16]      Dr Bill Young, Director, Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, CSIRO, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 60.

[17]      Dr Bill Young, Director, Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, CSIRO, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 61.

[18]      Mr David Harriss, Commissioner, New South Wales Office of Water, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 33.

[19]      Mr Tim Stubbs, Environmental Engineer, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 17.

[20]      Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Analysis of Groundwater in the 2011 Draft Murray‑Darling Basin Plan, April 2012, p. 6.

[21]      Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Analysis of Groundwater in the 2011 Draft Murray‑Darling Basin Plan, April 2012, p. 6.

[22]      http://download.mdba.gov.au/revised-BP/Addendum-to-Groundwater-Methods.pdf, p. 30.

Chapter 4 - Environmental outcomes and socio-economic impacts

[1]        Young WJ, Bond N, Brookes J, Gawne B and Jones GJ, Science Review of the estimation of an environmentally sustainable level of take for the Murray-Darling Basin. A report to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority from the CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, November 2011, p. 29. Note: this document was tabled at the committee's hearing on 24 April 2012.   

[2]        Young WJ, Bond N, Brookes J, Gawne B and Jones GJ, Science Review of the estimation of an environmentally sustainable level of take for the Murray-Darling Basin. A report to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority from the CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, November 2011, p. 30. 

[3]        Australian Conservation Foundation, Modelled Ecological Outcomes of the Proposed Basin Plan 2750 SDL Scenario, document tabled, 10 September 2012.

[4]        Australian Conservation Foundation, Modelled Ecological Outcomes of the Proposed Basin Plan 2750 SDL Scenario, document tabled, 10 September 2012.

[5]        MDBA, Plain English summary of the proposed Basin Plan — including explanatory notes, November 2011, p. 32. The environmental watering plan is set out in chapter 7 of the basin plan.

[6]        House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia, Of drought and flooding rains: Inquiry into the impact of the Guide to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, May 2011, pp 149–152.

[7]        Mr Tom Chesson, CEO, National Irrigators' Council, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 56.

[8]        Mr Tom Chesson, CEO, National Irrigators' Council, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 57.

[9]        Mr John Culleton, CEO, Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative Limited, Committee Hansard, 2 April 2012, p. 28.

[10]      Ms Cheryl Rix, General Manager, Western Murray Irrigation Limited, Committee Hansard, 3 April 2012, p. 14.

[11]      Mr Stewart Ellis, Chair, National Irrigators' Council, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 49.

[12]      Mr David Parker, Deputy Secretary, SEWPaC, Committee Hansard, 23 August 2012, p. 34.

[13]      Mr Stewart Ellis, Chair, National Irrigators' Council, Committee Hansard, 23 April 2012, p. 55. See also Mr Terence Hogan, Chairman, Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils, Committee Hansard, 2 April 2012, p. 58; and Mr Mark McKenzie, Chief Executive, Murray Valley Winegrowers Inc., Committee Hansard, 3 April 2012, p. 20.

[14]      Mr Jasen Crighton, Director, Crightons Rural Engineering Committee Hansard, 2 April 2012, p. 5.

[15]      Mr Allen Dwyer, General Manager, Hay Shire Council, Committee Hansard, 2 April 2012, p. 57.

[16]      Councillor Margaret Thomson, Mayor, Shire of Wentworth, Committee Hansard, 3 April 2012, p. 30.

[17]      Councillor John Arnold, Mayor, Mildura Rural City Council, Committee Hansard, 3 April 2012, p. 31.

[18]      Mrs Tania Chapman, Chair, Citrus Australia, Committee Hansard, 3 April 2012, p. 26.

[19]      Mr Paul Morris, Executive Director, ABARES, DAFF, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 11.

[20]      Mr Paul Morris, Executive Director, ABARES, DAFF, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 11.

[21]      Mr Paul Morris, Executive Director, ABARES, DAFF, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 5.

[22]      MDBA, The Socio-economic implications of the proposed Basin Plan, May 2012, p. 3.

[23]      Murrumbidgee Irrigators Ltd, Murray-Darling Basin Plan, www.mirrigation.com.au/Policy-and-Reform/Murray-Darling-Basin-Plan/Murray-Darling-Basin-Plan, (accessed 6 September 2012).

[24]      Mr Paul Morris, Executive Director, ABARES, DAFF, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 11.

[25]      MDBA, The Socio-economic implications of the proposed Basin Plan, May 2012, pp 3–4.

[26]      MDBA, The Socio-economic implications of the proposed Basin Plan, May 2012, p. 4.

Australian Greens - Minority Report – The Management of the Murray Darling Basin

[1]        Australian Conservation Foundation, Modelled Ecological Outcomes of the Proposed Basin Plan 2750 SDL Scenario, document tabled, 10 September 2012.

[2]        Mr Tim Stubbs, environmental engineer for the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 10.

[3]        Mr Peter Cosier, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 14.

[4]        Dr John Williams, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 14.

[5]        Mr Jonathan La Nauze, Healthy Rivers Campaigner, Australian Conservation Foundation, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 20.

[6]        Australian Conservation Foundation, Modelled Ecological Outcomes of the Proposed Basin Plan 2750 SDL Scenario, document tabled, 10 September 2012, p. 2.

[7]        Australian Conservation Foundation, Modelled Ecological Outcomes of the Proposed Basin Plan 2750 SDL Scenario, document tabled, 10 September 2012.

[8]        Mr Tim Kelly, Chief Executive, Conservation Council of SA, Committee Hansard, 24 April 2012, p. 24.

[9]        Mr Tim Stubbs, Environmental Engineer, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 11.

[10]      Mr Jonathan La Nauze, Healthy Rivers Campaigner, Australian Conservation Foundation, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 20.

[11]      Mr Jonathan La Nauze, Healthy Rivers Campaigner, Australian Conservation Foundation, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 20.

[12]      Young WJ, Bond N, Brookes J, Gawne B and Jones GJ, Science Review of the estimation of an environmentally sustainable level of take for the Murray-Darling Basin. A report to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority from the CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, November 2011, p. 30.  The CSIRO examined the impacts of returning 2800 GL/y rather than 2750 GL/y as its analysis was based on the modelling undertaken by the MDBA (which modelled 2800 GL/y) rather than is recommended reduction of 2750 GL/y.

[13]      Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Committee Hansard, 10 September 2012, p. 14.  

Additional Comments by Senator Nick Xenophon

[1]        Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Statement on the 2011 Draft Basin Plan, January 2012, p. 6.

[2]        Goyder Institute for Water Research,  Expert Panel Assessment of the Likely Ecological Consequences in South Australia of the Proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan, 2 April 2012, p. viii.

[3]        Australian National Audit Office, Administration of the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in New South Wales, June 2012, p. 22.

[4]        Victorian Ombudsman, Investigation into the Foodbowl Modernisation Project and related matters, November 2011, p. 8.

[5]        Victorian Auditor General, Irrigation Efficiency Programs – Audit Summary, June 2010, p. 1.

[6]        Dr Rhondda Dickson, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Committee Hansard, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, 23 May 2012, p. 102.

[7]        Mr Gavin McMahon, Committee Hansard, 3 April 2012, pp 49–50.

Appendix 2 -  Submissions Received

[1]        Please note, for this interim report, additional information received is listed from 1 December onwards.

Appendix 3 - Public Hearings and Witnesses

[1]        Please note, for this interim report, public hearings and witnesses are listed from 1 December 2011 onwards