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

The majority rejected an amendment moved by Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce.

The amendment stated that: "Any reduction in the long-term average sustainable diversion limit for the water resources of a particular water resource plan area may only be achieved through the purchase of water access rights if the purchase of those rights will not cause apparent social or economic detriment to the district in the Murray-Darling Basin from which the water is retrieved."

Its purpose is to protect people who live in affected communities by ensuring that "their economic and social fabric is maintained and that we do not devastate their lives".(See Senator Joyce's contribution for more information about the amendment. )

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