Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank those who have contributed to the discussion on the Australian Capital Territory Water Management Legislation Amendment Bill 2013. I welcome the opposition's support for this bill. The bill before the House is a small but very important step to improving water management outcomes and resource sustainability. National water reform is an ongoing process. The making of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in November last year was a critical step forward. This bill will continue the improvement of water governance within the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the minister for achieving something that no other Commonwealth government has ever achieved before, and that is a plan to manage the Murray-Darling Basin. This bill will allow the Australian Capital Territory government to manage all water extraction in the ACT, including that on national land and that by Commonwealth agencies throughout the ACT. It will also allow the ACT government to manage the Googong Dam, which supplies water to the ACT. This bill will facilitate the implementation of the basin plan by enabling the ACT to prepare a basin plan compliant water resource plan covering all of the ACT's water resources and the Googong Dam. The passage of this bill through the parliament will allow the Commonwealth and the ACT to fulfil their obligations under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

This government is committed to delivering a healthy river, strong communities and sustainable food production. This bill will assist to deliver on that commitment by facilitating cooperative, consistent and effective management arrangements of the water extraction within the ACT. I thank all those who have contributed and commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

Sitting suspended from 18:10 to 18 : 30

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