Commonwealth Numbered Acts Commonwealth Numbered Acts
No. 137, 2007
Contents
Division 1--General 2
1............ Short title............................................................................................ 2
2............ Commencement.................................................................................. 2
3............ Objects................................................................................................ 3
4............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 4
5............ Referring States................................................................................. 20
6............ Planned environmental water............................................................ 23
7............ Infrastructure operators etc.............................................................. 24
8............ River flow control works.................................................................. 24
9............ Constitutional basis for Act............................................................. 25
10.......... Basis for Basin water charge, water trading and water market rules 26
11.......... Reading down provision in relation to the operation of sections 99 and 100 of the Constitution 27
12.......... Application to Crown etc................................................................. 28
13.......... The Native Title Act 1993 not affected............................................. 29
Division 2--Interaction between Commonwealth water legislation and State laws 30
14.......... Coverage of this Division................................................................. 30
15.......... Concurrent operation intended......................................................... 30
16.......... Commonwealth water legislation does not apply to matters declared by State law to be an excluded matter 31
17.......... Avoiding direct inconsistency arising between the Commonwealth water legislation and State laws 32
18.......... Regulations may modify operation of the Commonwealth water legislation to deal with interaction between that legislation and State laws.................................................................. 33
Part 2--Management of Basin water resources 35
Division 1--Basin Plan 35
Subdivision A--Introduction 35
19.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 35
Subdivision B--Basin Plan, its purpose and contents 35
20.......... Purpose of Basin Plan...................................................................... 35
21.......... General basis on which Basin Plan to be developed......................... 36
22.......... Content of Basin Plan....................................................................... 38
23.......... Long‑term average sustainable diversion limits................................ 46
24.......... Temporary diversion provision........................................................ 47
25.......... Water quality and salinity management plan.................................... 48
26.......... Water trading and transfer rules........................................................ 49
27.......... Basin Plan to be published on Authority's website......................... 50
Subdivision C--Environmental management 50
28.......... Environmental watering plan............................................................ 50
29.......... Authority to consult holders and managers of environmental water in implementing environmental watering plan.......................................................................................................... 52
30.......... Environmental watering schedules.................................................... 52
31.......... Authority to coordinate delivery of environmental water................ 52
32.......... Authority to identify and account for held environmental water..... 52
Subdivision D--Effect of Basin Plan 53
33.......... Basin Plan is a legislative instrument................................................ 53
34.......... Effect of Basin Plan on Authority and other agencies of the Commonwealth 53
35.......... Effect of Basin Plan on other agencies and persons......................... 53
36.......... Constitutional operation of section 35 (general).............................. 54
37.......... Constitutional operation of section 35 (water trading rules)............ 55
38.......... Regulations may provide for exceptions.......................................... 56
39.......... Obligations under both Basin Plan and water resource plans........... 56
40.......... Effect on State laws.......................................................................... 57
Subdivision E--Procedure for making Basin Plan 57
41.......... Authority to prepare Basin Plan and give to Minister for adoption 57
42.......... Consultations by Authority in preparing Basin Plan....................... 57
43.......... Authority to seek submissions on proposed Basin Plan................. 57
44.......... Minister may adopt Basin Plan........................................................ 60
Subdivision F--Amendment of Basin Plan 61
45.......... Authority may prepare amendment of Basin Plan........................... 61
46.......... Consultations by Authority in preparing amendment of Basin Plan 61
47.......... Authority to seek submissions on proposed amendment of Basin Plan 62
48.......... Minister may adopt amendment of Basin Plan................................ 64
49.......... Minor or non‑substantive amendments of Basin Plan..................... 65
Subdivision G--Review of Basin Plan 66
50.......... Review of Basin Plan--general......................................................... 66
51.......... Authority to prepare discussion paper and seek submissions......... 67
52.......... Review may lead to amendment of Basin Plan................................. 69
Division 2--Water resource plans for particular water resource plan areas 70
Subdivision A--Introduction 70
53.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 70
Subdivision B--Water resource plans 70
54.......... Water resource plans for water resource plan areas......................... 70
55.......... Content of water resource plan........................................................ 71
56.......... General basis for accrediting and making water resource plans........ 71
Subdivision C--Effect of a water resource plan 72
57.......... Water resource plan adopted under section 69 is a legislative instrument 72
58.......... Effect of water resource plan on Authority and other agencies of the Commonwealth 72
59.......... Effect of water resource plan on other agencies and bodies............. 72
60.......... Constitutional operation of section 59 (general).............................. 73
61.......... Constitutional operation of section 59 (water trading rules)............ 74
62.......... Regulations may provide for exceptions.......................................... 75
Subdivision D--Accrediting water resource plans prepared by Basin States 75
63.......... Accrediting water resource plans prepared by Basin States............ 75
64.......... Duration of accreditation.................................................................. 77
65.......... Accrediting amendments of accredited water resource plans........... 78
66.......... Accrediting minor or non‑substantive amendments of accredited water resource plans 80
67.......... Authority may assist Basin State to prepare water resource plan... 80
Subdivision E--Water resource plans prepared by Authority and adopted by Minister 80
68.......... Minister may request Authority to prepare water resource plan.... 80
69.......... Minister may adopt water resource plan......................................... 82
70.......... Duration of plan adopted under section 69...................................... 84
Subdivision F--Reporting obligations 84
71.......... Reporting obligations of Basin States............................................... 84
Division 3--Procedures to be followed before taking step‑in action 86
72.......... Scope of Division............................................................................. 86
73.......... Procedure to be followed before exercising step‑in power............... 86
Division 4--Allocation of risks in relation to reductions in water availability 91
Subdivision A--Risks arising from reductions in diversion limits 91
74.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 91
75.......... Basin Plan to specify Commonwealth share of reduction in long‑term average sustainable diversion limit 92
76.......... Commonwealth to manage Commonwealth share of reduction in diversion limit 93
77.......... Payments to water access entitlement holders................................. 94
78.......... Applying Subdivision when transitional or interim water resource plan ends 97
79.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 98
Subdivision B--Risks arising from other changes to Basin Plan 98
80.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 98
81.......... Basin Plan to specify certain matters if Plan results in change in reliability of water allocations 99
82.......... Commonwealth to manage Commonwealth share of change in reliability 100
83.......... Payments to water access entitlement holders............................... 101
84.......... Applying Subdivision when transitional or interim water resource plan ends 105
85.......... Regulations..................................................................................... 105
86.......... Operation of Subdivision................................................................ 106
Part 3--Audits by National Water Commission 107
87.......... Power to conduct audits................................................................. 107
88.......... When audits must be conducted..................................................... 107
89.......... Reports on audits........................................................................... 107
90.......... Tabling reports............................................................................... 107
Part 4--Basin water charge and water market rules 108
Division 1--Water charge rules 108
91.......... Regulated water charges.................................................................. 108
92.......... Water charge rules........................................................................... 109
93.......... Process for making water charge rules............................................ 112
94.......... Constitutional operation of water charge rules............................... 113
95.......... ACCC to monitor water charges and compliance........................... 114
96.......... Minister may formulate model water charge rules......................... 114
Division 2--Water market rules 115
97.......... Water market rules.......................................................................... 115
98.......... Process for making water market rules........................................... 117
99.......... Constitutional operation of water market rules.............................. 118
100........ ACCC to monitor compliance........................................................ 119
Part 5--Murray‑Darling Basin Water Rights Information Service 120
101........ Registrable water rights.................................................................. 120
102........ Registers to which this Part applies............................................... 120
103........ Murray‑Darling Basin Water Rights Information Service.............. 120
Part 6--Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder 122
Division 1--Establishment and functions 122
104........ Establishment................................................................................. 122
105........ Functions........................................................................................ 122
106........ Limitation on disposal of water and Commonwealth environmental water holdings 123
107........ Limitation on directions to Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder 124
108........ Meaning of Commonwealth environmental water holdings........... 124
109........ Operating rules............................................................................... 125
110........ Application of State laws to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder 125
Division 2--Environmental Water Holdings Special Account 127
111........ Establishment of the Environmental Water Holdings Special Account 127
112........ Credits of amounts to the Account................................................ 127
113........ Purpose of the Account.................................................................. 128
Division 3--Reporting requirements 129
114........ Annual report................................................................................. 129
Division 4--Appointment, staff and delegation 130
115........ Appointment.................................................................................. 130
116........ Staff................................................................................................ 130
117........ Delegation....................................................................................... 130
Part 7--Water information 131
Division 1--Application of this Part 131
118........ Geographical application of this Part............................................. 131
119........ Application of this Part limited to certain legislative powers........ 131
Division 2--Functions and powers of the Bureau and Director of Meteorology 132
120........ Additional functions of the Bureau................................................ 132
121........ Contents of the National Water Account....................................... 132
122........ Publishing water accounts.............................................................. 132
123........ Publishing water information.......................................................... 133
Division 3--Water information 134
124........ Object of this Division................................................................... 134
125........ Meaning of water information etc.................................................. 134
126........ Giving of water information to the Bureau..................................... 134
127........ Director of Meteorology may require water information............... 135
128........ Prohibitions on disclosure of information do not apply................ 136
129........ Ownership etc. of information unaffected by its disclosure.......... 136
Division 4--National Water Information Standards 137
130........ National Water Information Standards........................................... 137
131........ Adoption of other standards.......................................................... 137
132........ Consultations in preparing National Water Information Standards 138
133........ Compliance notices......................................................................... 138
Division 5--Miscellaneous 139
134........ Delegation by Director of Meteorology......................................... 139
135........ Directions by Minister................................................................... 139
Part 8--Enforcement 140
Division 1--Preliminary 140
136........ Contraventions to which this Part applies..................................... 140
137........ Appropriate enforcement agency for contraventions to which this Part applies 140
138........ References to Court........................................................................ 140
139........ Jurisdiction of Federal Magistrates Court...................................... 141
Division 2--Injunctions 142
140........ Injunctions for contravention of the Act, regulations or rules........ 142
141........ Discharge or variation of injunctions.............................................. 143
142........ Certain considerations for granting injunctions not relevant.......... 143
143........ Powers conferred are in addition to other powers of the Court..... 144
Division 3--Declarations 145
144........ Declarations of contravention......................................................... 145
145........ Discharge or variation of declarations............................................. 145
Division 4--Civil penalties 146
Subdivision A--Civil penalty orders 146
146........ Civil penalty provisions................................................................. 146
147........ Court may order person to pay pecuniary penalty for contravening civil penalty provision 146
148........ Contravening a civil penalty provision is not an offence............... 147
149........ Persons involved in contravening civil penalty provision.............. 148
150........ Recovery of a pecuniary penalty................................................... 148
Subdivision B--Civil penalty proceedings and criminal proceedings 148
151........ Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings.................................. 148
152........ Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings................................ 148
153........ Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings.................................. 149
154........ Evidence given in proceedings for penalty not admissible in criminal proceedings 149
Division 5--Infringement notices 150
155........ Object............................................................................................. 150
156........ When an infringement notice can be given...................................... 150
157........ Matters to be included in an infringement notice........................... 150
158........ Amount of penalty......................................................................... 151
159........ Withdrawal of an infringement notice............................................. 152
160........ Paying the penalty in accordance with the notice.......................... 152
161........ Effect of this Division on civil proceedings.................................... 152
162........ Regulations..................................................................................... 153
Division 6--Enforceable undertakings 154
163........ Acceptance of undertakings relating to contraventions to which this Part applies 154
164........ Enforcement of undertakings.......................................................... 155
Division 7--Enforcement notices 156
165........ Authority may issue an enforcement notice................................... 156
166........ Breach of enforcement notice--civil penalty provision................. 157
167........ Discharge or variation of enforcement notices................................ 158
Division 8--Liability of executive officers of corporations 159
168........ Civil penalties for executive officers of bodies corporate............... 159
169........ Did an executive officer take reasonable steps to prevent contravention? 159
Division 9--Conduct of directors, employees and agents 161
170........ Conduct of directors, employees and agents.................................. 161
Part 9--Murray‑Darling Basin Authority (administrative provisions) 164
Division 1--Authority's establishment, functions, powers and liabilities 164
171........ Establishment................................................................................. 164
172........ Authority's functions..................................................................... 164
173........ Authority's powers........................................................................ 167
174........ Authority's financial liabilities are Commonwealth liabilities........ 167
175........ Minister may give directions to Authority.................................... 167
Division 2--Authority's constitution and membership 169
Subdivision A--Authority's constitution 169
176........ Authority's constitution................................................................ 169
Subdivision B--Authority's membership 169
177........ Authority's membership................................................................ 169
178........ Appointment of Authority members............................................. 169
179........ Period of appointment for Authority members............................. 171
180........ Acting Authority members............................................................. 171
Subdivision C--Terms and conditions for Authority members 173
181........ Remuneration.................................................................................. 173
182........ Standing obligation to disclose interests......................................... 173
183........ Obligation to disclose interests before considering a particular matter 173
184........ Chair must keep Minister informed............................................... 174
185........ Outside employment...................................................................... 175
186........ Member of the governing body of a relevant interest group.......... 175
187........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 175
188........ Resignation..................................................................................... 175
189........ Termination of appointment.......................................................... 176
190........ Other terms and conditions............................................................ 176
Division 3--Decision‑making and delegation by Authority 177
Subdivision A--Meetings 177
191........ Holding of meetings........................................................................ 177
192........ Presiding at meetings...................................................................... 177
193........ Quorum........................................................................................... 177
194........ Decisions at meetings etc................................................................ 178
195........ Conduct of meetings....................................................................... 178
196........ Minutes.......................................................................................... 178
Subdivision B--Decisions without meetings 178
197........ Decisions without meetings............................................................ 178
198........ Record of decisions......................................................................... 179
Subdivision C--Delegation 179
199........ Delegation by Authority................................................................ 179
200........ Limits on how some functions and powers can be delegated......... 180
Subdivision D--Advisory committees 180
201........ Basin Officials Committee.............................................................. 180
202........ Basin Community Committee........................................................ 181
203........ Other advisory committees............................................................ 183
204........ Appointments to advisory committees.......................................... 183
205........ Procedural matters.......................................................................... 184
Division 4--Authority's staff etc. 185
206........ Staff................................................................................................ 185
207........ Persons assisting Authority........................................................... 185
208........ Chair not to be directed about certain matters................................ 185
Division 5--Finance and reporting requirements 186
Subdivision A--Murray‑Darling Basin Special Account 186
209........ Murray‑Darling Basin Special Account......................................... 186
210........ Credits to the Account................................................................... 186
211........ Purposes of the Account................................................................ 186
Subdivision B--Authority may charge fees 187
212........ Fees................................................................................................. 187
Subdivision C--Exemption from taxation and charges etc. 188
213........ Exemption from taxation and charges etc....................................... 188
Subdivision D--Reporting requirements 188
214........ Annual report................................................................................. 188
Division 6--Confidentiality 190
215........ Confidentiality................................................................................ 190
Part 10--Murray‑Darling Basin Authority (special powers) 192
Division 1--Application of this Part 192
216........ Application of this Part limited to certain legislative powers........ 192
Division 2--Entry onto land etc. 194
Subdivision A--Authorised officers 194
217........ Appointment of authorised officers............................................... 194
218........ Identity cards.................................................................................. 194
Subdivision B--Powers to enter land etc. other than for compliance purposes 195
219........ When authorised officers can enter premises................................. 195
220........ Obligations of authorised officers before entering premises........... 195
221........ Powers of authorised officers while on premises........................... 196
222........ Duties of authorised officers.......................................................... 197
Subdivision C--Powers to enter land etc. for compliance purposes 198
223........ Entering premises to monitor compliance...................................... 198
224........ Entering premises to search for evidential material........................ 198
225........ Monitoring warrants....................................................................... 200
226........ Contravention‑related warrants...................................................... 200
227........ Contravention‑related warrants by telephone, telex, fax etc.......... 201
228........ Obligations of authorised officers--all cases.................................. 203
229........ Obligations of authorised officers--entry by consent................... 204
230........ Obligations of authorised officers--entry by warrant................... 204
231........ Use of equipment at premises........................................................ 205
232........ Expert assistance to operate a thing............................................... 205
233........ Compensation for damage.............................................................. 206
234........ Offences relating to warrants.......................................................... 207
235........ Subdivision does not apply to authorised officers who are contractors 208
Subdivision D--Other matters 208
236........ Division not to abrogate privilege against self‑incrimination.......... 208
237........ Occupier entitled to be present during entry.................................. 208
Division 3--Information gathering 209
238........ Power to request information......................................................... 209
239........ Prohibitions on disclosure of information do not apply................ 210
Part 11--Transitional 211
Division 1--Management of Basin water resources (Part 2) 211
240........ Reference to water resource plan area............................................ 211
241........ Transitional water resource plans................................................... 211
242........ Interim water resource plans.......................................................... 212
243........ Transitional water resource plans taken to have been accredited... 212
244........ Interim water resource plans taken to have been accredited........... 213
245........ Operation of transitional water resource plans and interim water resource plans 213
246........ Amendment of transitional water resource plans and interim water resource plans 214
247........ Authority may provide assistance................................................. 214
Division 2--Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder 216
248........ The functions of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder prior to Basin Plan taking effect 216
249........ Disposals of water or Commonwealth water holdings prior to Basin Plan taking effect 216
Division 3--Murray‑Darling Basin Authority 217
250........ First annual report for Authority................................................... 217
Part 12--Miscellaneous 218
251........ Delegation by Minister................................................................... 218
252........ Instruments not invalid for failure to publish on website.............. 219
253........ Review of operation of Act............................................................ 219
254........ Compensation for acquisition of property..................................... 220
255........ Act does not authorise compulsory acquisition of water access rights 220
256........ Regulations..................................................................................... 221
Schedule 1--The Murray‑Darling Basin 222
Schedule 2--Basin water charging objectives and principles 223
Part 1--Preliminary 223
1............ Objectives and principles............................................................... 223
Part 2--Water charging objectives 224
2............ Water charging objectives............................................................... 224
Part 3--Water charging principles 225
3............ Water storage and delivery............................................................. 225
4............ Cost recovery for planning and management.................................. 226
5............ Environmental externalities............................................................. 226
6............ Benchmarking and efficiency reviews............................................. 226
Schedule 3--Basin water market and trading objectives and principles 228
1............ Definitions...................................................................................... 228
2............ Objectives and principles............................................................... 228
3............ Basin water market and trading objectives..................................... 229
4............ Basin water market and trading principles..................................... 229
Schedule 4--Transitional water resource plans 233
No. 137, 2007
An Act to make provision for the management of the water resources of the Murray‑Darling Basin, and to make provision for other matters of national interest in relation to water and water information, and for related purposes
[Assented to 3 September 2007]
The Parliament of Australia enacts: