Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Nash. Yesterday, the New South Wales government released the interim investigation report following allegations of water theft and corruption aired on ABC's Four Corners.Can the minister confirm that the report has found that the public's confidence in administration of water management in New South Wales has been undermined by ineffectual compliance and enforcement programs, allegations of noncompliance remaining unresolved and public servants being investigated by the New South Wales corruption watchdog, all of this under the minister's watch?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can't confirm those specific comments from the senator, not being directly familiar with them. I can of course confirm that the report has been received and that the state minister has made some comments relating to that. I do note that Minister Niall Blair has announced that he will immediately look to act on key components of the Water Management Compliance Improvement Package, which has been recommended by Mr Matthews in his interim report. I also note the speed with which the minister acted in this area. This is of course a matter for the state government, and I do note the very quick response that we have seen from the water minister in New South Wales.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Gallacher, a supplementary question?

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the report finds that further investigation is needed to get to the bottom of allegations of theft and corruption in the Murray-Darling Basin, will the Turnbull government now agree to a national judicial inquiry to investigate these allegations and restore confidence in the system?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I don't. Indeed, there have been a number of very appropriate measures put in place to deal with this issue. Firstly, of course, we have seen the independent inquiry led by Ken Matthews, which has handed down its report. We've seen the Commonwealth-initiated Murray-Darling Basin Authority review of the basin-wide compliance regimes. We've seen the ANAO audit of the national partnership agreement on implementing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. We have seen referrals to the New South Wales ICAC and, of course, the Senate rural and regional affairs committee inquiry into the integrity of the water market.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And they're still stealing water!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson-Young.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And I would point out that it would cost tens of millions of dollars to do what the senator is suggesting and we would be waiting 18 months. We have a number of measures in place, from both New South Wales and the Commonwealth, to respond to this, and it is entirely appropriate to do so in that manner.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Gallacher, final supplementary question?

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the Deputy Prime Minister now apologise to irrigators and river communities for claiming the reports were a conspiracy to 'create a calamity for which the solution is to take more water'?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The federal minister responsible for water continues to be very focused on the Murray-Darling Basin and making sure we get the triple-bottom-line result that we need across the environmental, social and economic impacts for the basin. He has made very sensible decisions, as indeed has the state minister, and the coalition government will continue to make sure we get good outcomes for all of those living right across the Murray-Darling Basin.