Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor welcomes the provisions set out in this bill, the Water Amendment (Indigenous Authority Member) Bill 2019, for a standing Indigenous member on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Labor believes in the principle that underlies this bill—that First Nations voices must be heard in the management of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on a permanent basis. Historically, Indigenous people have been excluded from water management in Australia. Our First Nations people have deep, highly-valuable knowledge about the behaviour of their ecosystems which should be central to the Murray-Darling's restoration and management.

We note this bill only addresses one of the inadequacies identified in the South Australian royal commission where First Nations peoples are concerned. The appointment of a standing Indigenous authority member is long overdue. While Labor welcomes this bill, we note it falls short of the South Australian royal commission recommendation that the authority have two standing Indigenous members. One First Nations voice on the board should only be a first step to deeper engagement and consultation with First Nations peoples in the governance of the Murray-Darling Basin. We note there have been concerns about the drafting of the bill—that it might limit the available pool of potential candidates for the newly created position. We look forward to hearing from Aboriginal communities about this issue in the course of formulating our policy in the lead-up to the next election.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Water Amendment (Indigenous Authority Member) Bill 2019 as well. This bill amends the Water Act 2007 to appoint a First Nations member to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. The establishment of the Indigenous authority member position will increase the authority's membership from six to seven members. This new position does not preclude other authority members from being appointed who are First Nations people. To be eligible for the position, an individual must be a First Nations person with a high degree of expertise in First Nations matters relevant to the Murray-Darling Basin water resources.

The Greens too are very interested in the way this will be interpreted. Some people may not regard Indigenous people with knowledge as having a high degree of expertise, but it is, in fact, a high degree of expertise because of First Nations peoples' understanding of, for example, cultural flows and relationships with lands and waters. We'll be watching that quite closely.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority plays an important role in preparing and reviewing plans for the sustainable use of the basin's water resources. By putting in place a First Nations board member, this bill makes a positive step towards recognising the unique knowledge and cultural values of First Nations peoples regarding land and water management in the Murray-Darling Basin.

First Nations peoples have a strong cultural and spiritual connection with land and water, and their rights and obligations as custodians must be respected. First Nations peoples have been shut out of decision-making about land and water management across this country, in fact, for far too long. We need to look no further than the royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin. The commission heard evidence that cultural flows, which seek to incorporate First Nations values and interests into plans, have been at the bottom of the pile. For decades and decades, First Nations peoples have been advocating for a share in the water market, albeit with limited success.

I would like to recognise the efforts of First Nations communities in advocating for their interests and right to have a say in water management in the Murray-Darling Basin. When I held this portfolio, quite a long time ago, they were very active, way back then, trying to ensure that they also were included in decision-making. We need to recognise the unique rights, obligations and responsibilities First Nations people have to the land, sky and sea. We need to ensure that First Nations people have a genuine seat at the table so that their specific, unique knowledge can be incorporated into the critical decisions that are being made about the future of the Murray-Darling and water.

Today, the Greens are supporting this bill as a step towards First Nations people's regaining some of this control and ownership. The Greens will continue to support reforms to water governance and management that protect the social, cultural and economic rights and interests of First Nations people. I repeat: we will be supporting this bill.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank senators for their contributions and commend this bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.