Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012

The majority voted against an amendment moved by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The amendment outlines a number of key targets that the Greens believe will "ensure that we set a proper benchmark" for future long-term average sustainable diversion limits.(See Senator Hanson-Young's contribution for more information. ) For example, the amendment requires that the mouth of the River Murray "be open to an average annual depth of 1 metre or more for at least 95% of years and to an average annual depth of 0.7 metres or more for at least 95% of years".(This is section 6A(c)(iv) of amendment (5). )

Background to the bill

The purpose of the bill is to allow the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to make adjustments to the long-term average sustainable diversion limit set by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.(See the bills digest (809KB) for more information on the bill and its purpose.) Sustainable diversion limits are the average water quantities that can be taken from the Murray-Darling basin sustainably and their aim is to return water to the environment.

References