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senate vote 2019-11-14#10
Edited by
mackay staff
on
2019-11-15 15:39:06
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Title
Motions — Murray-Darling Basin- Motions - Murray-Darling Basin - Water licence holders
Description
<p class="speaker">Malcolm Roberts</p><p>I move:</p><p class="italic">That the Senate—</p>- The majority voted against a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2019-11-14.161.2) introduced by Queensland Senator [Malcolm Roberts](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/malcolm_roberts) (One Nation), which means it failed.
- ### Motion text
- > *That the Senate—*
- >
- > *(a) notes that:*
- >
- >> *(i) areas of the Murray-Darling Basin are experiencing a water crisis,*
- >>
- >> *(ii) water trading rules have allowed speculators to hold temporary irrigation water from the market which has forced the price so high that only large commercial farms can afford to purchase water for a narrow range of crops,*
- >>
- >> *(iii) in times of drought, irrigated farms provide a lifeline for native fauna, and*
- >>
- >> *(iv) the Bureau of Meteorology '18 month rainfall deficiency' indicates areas that are affected by drought; and*
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- > *(b) calls on the Minister for Water Resources, (Mr Littleproud) to amend the legislative instrument, 'Basin Plan 2012', pursuant to Schedule 3(4)(7) of the Water Act 2007, as follows:*
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- >> *(i) a temporary water licence (allocation trade) must not be completed unless the purchaser can show that the water will be used for agricultural purposes as determined by the Irrigation Infrastructure Operator,*
- >>
- >> *(ii) an entity cannot be both a buyer and a seller of temporary water in any 12 month period,*
- >>
- >> *(iii) temporary water must be used within a year of purchase,*
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- >> *(iv) inter-valley transfers cannot occur out of a region in drought,*
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- >> *(v) government entities are prevented from accessing the temporary water trading market,*
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- >> *(vi) water metering capability by a purchaser is not to be used to prevent a temporary water trade, and*
- >>
- >> *(vii) these measures will commence on 1 January 2020 and remain in place until the drought ends.*
<p class="italic">(a) notes that:</p><p class="italic">(i) areas of the Murray-Darling Basin are experiencing a water crisis,</p><p class="italic">(ii) water trading rules have allowed speculators to hold temporary irrigation water from the market which has forced the price so high that only large commercial farms can afford to purchase water for a narrow range of crops,</p><p class="italic">(iii) in times of drought, irrigated farms provide a lifeline for native fauna, and</p><p class="italic">(iv) the Bureau of Meteorology '18 month rainfall deficiency' indicates areas that are affected by drought; and</p><p class="italic">(b) calls on the Minister for Water Resources, (Mr Littleproud) to amend the legislative instrument, 'Basin Plan 2012', pursuant to Schedule 3(4)(7) of the Water Act 2007, as follows:</p><p class="italic">(i) a temporary water licence (allocation trade) must not be completed unless the purchaser can show that the water will be used for agricultural purposes as determined by the Irrigation Infrastructure Operator,</p><p class="italic">(ii) an entity cannot be both a buyer and a seller of temporary water in any 12 month period,</p><p class="italic">(iii) temporary water must be used within a year of purchase,</p><p class="italic">(iv) inter-valley transfers cannot occur out of a region in drought,</p><p class="italic">(v) government entities are prevented from accessing the temporary water trading market,</p><p class="italic">(vi) water metering capability by a purchaser is not to be used to prevent a temporary water trade, and</p><p class="italic">(vii) these measures will commence on 1 January 2020 and remain in place until the drought ends.</p> <p class="speaker">Jonathon Duniam</p><p>I seek leave to make a short statement.</p> <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p><p>Leave is granted for one minute.</p> <p class="speaker">Jonathon Duniam</p><p>The government is concerned about high water prices and the trade in the Murray-Darling Basin. In September this year, following industry concerns, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the ACCC, was requested to immediately investigate the allegations of unconscionable conduct that investors and brokers are inflating water prices. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has also been requested to use its powers to investigate the price-reporting transparency. The ACCC is also conducting a thorough inquiry into water markets and will make recommendations to enhance competitiveness, efficiency and transparency, regulations and operations.</p> <p class="speaker">Katy Gallagher</p><p>I seek leave to make a short statement.</p> <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p><p>Leave is granted for one minute.</p> <p class="speaker">Katy Gallagher</p><p>We can't support this motion, because we need a comprehensive solution to water speculation, not a piecemeal one, and we need to get it right. The buck stops with the Morrison government.</p> <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p><p>The question is that the motion moved by Senator Roberts be agreed to.</p>
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