An independent regulator to oversee the Murray-Darling Basin officially started work yesterday.
The Office of the Inspector-General of Water Compliance was established by the Commonwealth government in a bid to improve community confidence in water management and compliance.
It will be led by Inspector-General of Water Compliance, former NSW Deputy Premier, parliamentarian and long-serving police officer Troy Grant.
The office will be responsible for compliance and enforcement of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Water Act and other resource plans.
Mr Grant is the first Inspector-General officially appointed to the role and will be supported by the Office of Water Compliance.
New legislation has provided the office with powers to identify water compliance issues and enforce water compliance rules.
Mr Grant has been Interim Inspector-General since December.
He said the Office's independence and accountability was critical to building community trust in its regulatory role.
"As Interim Inspector-General, I have been actively meeting with and talking to Basin communities and industry groups," he said.
"The questions asked, and concerns raised, have made it clear to me that there is a lack of confidence in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and in the regulators themselves.
"Of equal concern, is the level of confusion about water compliance rules and regulations."
He said he had already started work to make improvements.
"There needs to be a level playing field for all," he said.
"I have made commitments to hit the ground running, so today I am pleased to announce the three immediate priorities for my Office."
The Inspector-General's immediate priorities are undertaking assessments to ensure all parties are working to plan, and that best practice water management is being delivered.
For the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, this includes reviewing the robustness and adequacy of the water management cycle including the delivery, measurement and review the use of water for the environment.
Establishing how decisions are made across state and territory jurisdictions relating to water accounting, entitlements, measurement, allocation, governance, and barriers that inhibit the compliance and enforcement is also a priority, as is assessing the adequacy and robustness of the processes used to measure water at both Basin and individual valley scale in the River Murray and lower Darling River systems.
Two assessments are already underway, with the third to commence shortly.
State Basin governments will continue to implement the Basin Plan.
However, if laws are not enforced, or stronger action is required, the Office has the powers to step in and act to ensure integrity in the system and deliver positive outcomes for Basin communities.
More broadly, the Office of the Inspector-General of Water Compliance will:
- oversee and monitor Commonwealth and Basin states' compliance with and the implementation of existing water legislation and the Basin Plan;
- provide clarity and certainty to Basin communities about water resource management; and
- provide advice on matters referred by the Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt; and initiate its own inquiries, if required.
"I want Basin communities to know that they can count on me and my Office to hold regulators to account," Mr Grant said.
"I have staff based in five regional locations across the Basin, as well as regional field officers who are my day-to-day eyes and ears on the ground.
"So, have no doubt, I will know what's really going on when it comes to water compliance.
"Most importantly, my office is truly independent, not driven by any party's political agenda.
"We will do what we need to, to get the job done. If compliance laws are not being enforced, new legislation means my Office now has the power to act.
"And we will as needed."
