9th Aug 2017, 4:30 PM – Senate Committees - Murray-Darling Basin - Independent national judicial inquiry

The majority voted in favour of a resolution for an independent national judicial inquiry into management of the Murray-Darling Basin. The motion was introduced by South Australian Penny Wong and will now be sent to the House of Representatives so they can vote on whether to agree with it or not.

Motion text

(1) That the Senate—

(a) affirms its support for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan;

(b) expresses deep concerns about allegations of theft and corruption in management of water resources in the Barwon-Darling Basin raised by the Four Corners report on 24 July 2017;

(c) notes the matter has been referred to the Australian National Audit Office and New South Wales authorities for investigation;

(d) considers a state-based inquiry into allegations, revealed in the report, to be insufficient and that the only way to ensure confidence in states' commitment to achieve the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is through a national investigation;

(e) calls for the establishment of an independent national judicial inquiry through the Council of Australian Governments; and

(f) calls on all governments to commit to achieving a healthy, sustainable Murray-Darling Basin which supports the future prosperity of the communities which rely upon it.

(2) This resolution be communicated to the House of Representatives for concurrence.