5650

2008

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

Water Amendment Bill 2008

 

 

(Amendments to be moved by Senator Nash on behalf of the Opposition in committee of the whole)

(1)     Schedule 1, item 2, page 11 (lines 28 to 35), omit subsection 86A(2), substitute:

             (2)  Critical human water needs are the needs for a minimum amount of water, that can only reasonably be provided from Basin water resources, required to meet human drinking, sanitation and health requirements in urban and rural areas.

[critical human water needs definition]

(2)     Schedule 1, item 2, page 12 (after line 24), after section 86A, insert:

86AA  Definitions and criteria relating to critical human water needs

             (1)  The Authority must publish, by 1 July 2009, a report containing the following:

                     (a)  a comprehensive, practical definition of the term critical human water needs which identifies categories of users of such water and allowable purposes for the use of such water;

                     (b)  a definition of the core human consumption requirements which would satisfy paragraph 86A(2)(a);

                     (c)  a definition of the non-human consumption requirements which would satisfy paragraph 86A(2)(b).

             (2)  The Authority must, by legislative instrument, determine, by 1 July 2009:

                     (a)  clear, transparent and equitable criteria the Authority will apply in determining whether the definition in paragraph 86A(2)(a) is met;

                     (b)  clear, transparent and equitable criteria the Authority will apply in determining whether the definition in paragraph 86A(2)(b) is met;

                     (c)  clear, transparent and equitable criteria the Authority will apply in determining the volume of conveyance water required to deliver water to meet critical human water needs;

                     (d)  clear, transparent and equitable criteria the Authority will apply to monitor the use of such water to ensure it is used for the allowable purposes referred to in paragraph (1)(a).

 [critical human water needs definitions and criteria]

(3)     Schedule 1, item 2, page 13 (after line 4), after section 86B, insert:

86BA  Reports on and evaluation of critical human water needs distributions

                   The Authority must publish, at least monthly, after the Basin Plan first takes effect, a report specifying:

                     (a)  the amounts of water distributed or allocated under the Basin Plan to meet critical human water needs; and

                     (b)  the amounts of conveyance water distributed or allocated to deliver that water; and

                     (c)  in relation to each such distribution or allocation:

                              (i)  to whom and where the water has been distributed or allocated;

                             (ii)  the criteria upon which the water has been distributed or allocated;

                            (iii)  the length of time for which such water has been distributed or allocated to meet that need;

                            (iv)  an evaluation of the compliance of that distribution or allocation with the criteria specified under subparagraph (ii).

[evaluation of critical human water needs distributions]