Rex Patrick (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water. Over the weekend, the South Australian Premier announced that a royal commission will be established into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, following well-publicised allegations that upstream irrigators are stealing water. With respect to jurisdiction and comity, is it within the power of or appropriate for a state-initiated royal commission to compel a Commonwealth minister, official or employee of a Commonwealth authority to appear before it, to subpoena Commonwealth documents, to enter and conduct inspections on Commonwealth property or to make recommendations relating to Commonwealth governance? Would royal assent of the South Australian Royal Commission (Application of Act) Amendment Bill, which is before the South Australian parliament, change that situation?