(1)   Given that the Victorian and New South Wales (NSW) governments have committed $50 million from the proceeds of the sale to returning water to the Snowy River, and $10 million to maximising environmental outcomes, what money will the Commonwealth contribute to the ongoing health and viability of the Snowy River.

(2) (a)   Will the Commonwealth Government commit to ensuring the Snowy River flows at a minimum of 28 per cent of its original flow, prior to the proposed sale; and (b) will the Commonwealth hold the NSW Government to its previous commitments to establish the Snowy Scientific Committee to ensure environmental flows have the greatest possible ecological benefit.

(3)   Given the Minister’s strong interest in Alpine Heritage: (a) does he fully support privatisation of such an important and iconic piece of infrastructure; and (b) has he assessed the environmental and heritage impacts of the sale.

(1)   The Australian Government remains committed to the arrangements agreed by the three governments at corporatisation, including those aimed at improving the health of the Snowy and other rivers. The Government has also made other significant commitments to river health in Australia, particularly through the Natural Heritage Trust Programme, the National Water Initiative and the Living Murray Initiative. It is within this context that we are currently considering the Victorian Government’s request to further strengthen commitments in relation to the Snowy River.

(2)  

(a)   As already stated, the Australian Government remains committed to the arrangements agreed at corporatisation with the New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian Governments, which set 10-year targets for restoring 212 Gigalitres (GL) of flows to the Snowy River to achieve 21 per cent average natural flows, together with achieving an average 70 GL of additional environmental flows for the Murray River, and additional montane river flows. The arrangements agreed at corporatisation also provide an option for governments to agree to participate in further increases in environmental flows in the Snowy River after 2012, up to a total of 28 per cent of annual natural flows, subject to government and private sector participants agreeing to a capital works programme to achieve the offsetting water savings in all or any of the Lower Darling, Goulburn, Murray and Murrumbidgee river systems, and the NSW and Victorian governments agreeing to compensate Snowy Hydro for net foregone revenue resulting from any further increase in Snowy River flows above 212 GL.

(b)   I am aware that the NSW Government has a commitment under its Snowy Corporatisation Act 1997 to establish a Snowy Scientific Committee to provide advice on matters related to the regime for the release of water for environmental reasons under the Snowy water licence. The Australian Government has indicated its support for the establishment of this committee to NSW. I understand that the responsible NSW Minister, the Hon John Della Bosca MP, has committed to establishing the Scientific Committee and has commenced the process to do so.

(3) (a)   Yes. (b) No, the sale does not constitute an action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and therefore does not require environment assessment and approval. I have initiated an assessment for Australia's alpine heritage for consideration for the National Heritage List. The assessment will include those parts of the Snowy Hydro Scheme which are within national park boundaries. I have yet to receive the assessment and yet to decide whether the area has any heritage values that warrant its inclusion in the National Heritage List.