Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ........................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement ................................................................................... 1

3............ Objects ................................................................................................ 2

4............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 3

5............ Application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to Parts 1A, 2A, 4, 4A, 10A and 11A            19

6............ Planned environmental water ............................................................ 19

7............ Infrastructure operators etc. ............................................................... 20

8............ River flow control works .................................................................. 21

9............ Constitutional basis for Act ............................................................... 22

9A......... Constitutional basis of Parts 1A, 2A, 4, 4A, 10A and 11A .............. 22

10.......... Basis for Basin water charge, water trading and water market rules . 24

11.......... Reading down provision in relation to the operation of sections 99 and 100 of the Constitution              25

12.......... Application to Crown etc. ................................................................. 26

12A....... Actions of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council ................ 27

13.......... The Native Title Act 1993 not affected ............................................... 27

Part 1A--The Murray-Darling Basin Agreement                                            28

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                             28

18A....... Definitions ........................................................................................ 28

18B....... Meaning of referring State ................................................................ 29

Division 2--The Murray-Darling Basin Agreement                                   33

18C....... Amendment of Schedule 1 ................................................................ 33

18D....... Protocols made by the Authority ....................................................... 33

Division 3--Functions, powers and duties under the Agreement         34

18E........ Additional functions, powers and duties of the Authority ................. 34

18F........ Additional functions, powers and duties of the Basin Community Committee          35

18G....... Management of money and assets ..................................................... 36

18H....... Managing water access rights etc. for the Living Murray Initiative ... 36

Part 2--Management of Basin water resources                                                 37

Division 1--Basin Plan                                                                                                37

Subdivision A--Introduction                                                                                  37

19.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 37

Subdivision B--Basin Plan, its purpose and contents                                      37

20.......... Purpose of Basin Plan ....................................................................... 37

21.......... General basis on which Basin Plan to be developed ......................... 38

22.......... Content of Basin Plan ....................................................................... 41

23.......... Long-term average sustainable diversion limits ................................. 49

24.......... Temporary diversion provision ......................................................... 49

25.......... Water quality and salinity management plan ...................................... 51

26.......... Water trading and transfer rules ........................................................ 51

27.......... Basin Plan to be published on Authority's website ........................... 53

Subdivision C--Environmental management                                                   53

28.......... Environmental watering plan ............................................................. 53

29.......... Authority to consult holders and managers of environmental water in implementing environmental watering plan 54

30.......... Environmental watering schedules .................................................... 54

31.......... Authority to coordinate delivery of environmental water .................. 55

32.......... Authority to identify and account for held environmental water ........ 55

Subdivision D--Effect of Basin Plan                                                                   55

33.......... Basin Plan is a legislative instrument ................................................ 55

34.......... Effect of Basin Plan on Authority and other agencies of the Commonwealth           55

35.......... Effect of Basin Plan on other agencies and persons .......................... 56

36.......... Constitutional operation of section 35 (general) ................................ 56

37.......... Constitutional operation of section 35 (water trading rules) .............. 57

38.......... Regulations may provide for exceptions ........................................... 58

39.......... Obligations under both Basin Plan and water resource plans ............ 58

40.......... Effect on State laws ........................................................................... 59

Subdivision E--Procedure for making Basin Plan                                          59

41.......... Authority to prepare Basin Plan and give to Minister for adoption ... 59

42.......... Consultations by Authority in preparing Basin Plan ......................... 59

43.......... Authority to seek submissions on proposed Basin Plan ................... 60

43A....... Authority to seek comments from Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council on proposed Basin Plan   61

44.......... Minister may adopt Basin Plan ......................................................... 64

Subdivision F--Amendment of Basin Plan                                                         65

45.......... Authority may prepare amendment of Basin Plan ............................. 65

46.......... Consultations by Authority in preparing amendment of Basin Plan .. 65

47.......... Authority to seek submissions on proposed amendment of Basin Plan 66

47A....... Authority to seek comments from Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council on proposed amendment of Basin Plan .......................................................................................................... 68

48.......... Minister may adopt amendment of Basin Plan .................................. 70

49.......... Minor or non-substantive amendments of Basin Plan ....................... 71

Subdivision G--Review of Basin Plan                                                                 72

49A....... Authority to advise Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council on impacts of Basin Plan        72

50.......... Review of Basin Plan--general ........................................................ 72

51.......... Authority to prepare discussion paper and seek submissions ........... 73

52.......... Review may lead to amendment of Basin Plan .................................. 75

Division 2--Water resource plans for particular water resource plan areas    76

Subdivision A--Introduction                                                                                  76

53.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 76

Subdivision B--Water resource plans                                                                 76

54.......... Water resource plans for water resource plan areas ........................... 76

55.......... Content of water resource plan .......................................................... 77

56.......... General basis for accrediting and making water resource plans ........ 77

Subdivision C--Effect of a water resource plan                                               78

57.......... Water resource plan adopted under section 69 is a legislative instrument 78

58.......... Effect of water resource plan on Authority and other agencies of the Commonwealth              78

59.......... Effect of water resource plan on other agencies and bodies .............. 78

60.......... Constitutional operation of section 59 (general) ................................ 79

61.......... Constitutional operation of section 59 (water trading rules) .............. 80

62.......... Regulations may provide for exceptions ........................................... 80

Subdivision D--Accrediting water resource plans prepared by Basin States 81

63.......... Accrediting water resource plans prepared by Basin States .............. 81

64.......... Duration of accreditation ................................................................... 83

65.......... Accrediting amendments of accredited water resource plans ............. 83

66.......... Accrediting minor or non-substantive amendments of accredited water resource plans            85

67.......... Authority may assist Basin State to prepare water resource plan ...... 85

Subdivision E--Water resource plans prepared by Authority and adopted by Minister             86

68.......... Minister may request Authority to prepare water resource plan ........ 86

69.......... Minister may adopt water resource plan ............................................ 88

70.......... Duration of plan adopted under section 69 ........................................ 89

Subdivision F--Reporting obligations                                                                 89

71.......... Reporting obligations of Basin States ............................................... 89

Division 3--Procedures to be followed before taking step-in action 91

72.......... Scope of Division ............................................................................. 91

73.......... Procedure to be followed before exercising step-in power ................ 91

Division 4--Allocation of risks in relation to reductions in water availability   96

Subdivision A--Risks arising from reductions in diversion limits               96

74.......... Simplified outline .............................................................................. 96

74A....... States applying the risk assignment framework ................................ 97

75.......... Basin Plan to specify Commonwealth share of reduction in long-term average sustainable diversion limit              97

76.......... Commonwealth to manage Commonwealth share of reduction in diversion limit     100

77.......... Payments to water access entitlement holders ................................. 100

78.......... Applying Subdivision when transitional or interim water resource plan ends           103

79.......... Regulations ..................................................................................... 104

Subdivision B--Risks arising from other changes to Basin Plan               105

80.......... Simplified outline ............................................................................ 105

81.......... Basin Plan to specify certain matters if Plan results in change in reliability of water allocations               106

82.......... Commonwealth to manage Commonwealth share of change in reliability                 107

83.......... Payments to water access entitlement holders ................................. 107

84.......... Applying Subdivision when transitional or interim water resource plan ends           111

85.......... Regulations ..................................................................................... 111

86.......... Operation of Subdivision ................................................................ 112

Part 2A--Critical human water needs                                                                   113

86A....... Critical human water needs to be taken into account in developing Basin Plan         113

86B....... Basin Plan to provide for critical human water needs ...................... 114

86C....... Additional matters relating to monitoring, assessment and risk management            114

86D....... Additional matters relating to Tier 2 water sharing arrangements .... 115

86E........ Additional matters relating to Tier 3 water sharing arrangements .... 117

86F........ Emergency responses to the reaching of trigger points ................... 117

86G....... Effect of this Part on Authority and other agencies of the Commonwealth               118

86H....... Effect of this Part on other agencies and persons ............................ 118

86J........ Additional powers of the Authority ................................................ 119

Part 3--Audits by National Water Commission                                              122

87.......... Power to conduct audits .................................................................. 122

88.......... When audits must be conducted ...................................................... 122

89.......... Reports on audits ............................................................................ 122

90.......... Tabling reports ................................................................................ 122

Part 4--Basin water charge and water market rules                                   123

Division 1--Water charge rules                                                                          123

91.......... Regulated water charges .................................................................. 123

92.......... Water charge rules ........................................................................... 124

93.......... Process for making water charge rules ............................................ 126

94.......... ACCC to monitor water charges and compliance ............................ 127

95.......... Minister may formulate model water charge rules ........................... 127

96.......... Transitional provisions relating to water charge rules ..................... 128

Division 2--Water market rules                                                                          129

97.......... Water market rules .......................................................................... 129

98.......... Process for making water market rules ........................................... 131

99.......... ACCC to monitor transformation arrangements and compliance .... 132

100........ Transitional provisions relating to water market rules ..................... 132

Division 3--Miscellaneous                                                                                      133

100A..... Functions and powers of the ACCC ............................................... 133

Part 4A--Extended operation of Basin water charge and water market rules    134

100B..... Extended operation of Basin water charge rules .............................. 134

100C..... Extended operation of Basin water market rules ............................. 134

100D..... Functions and powers of the ACCC ............................................... 135

Part 5--Murray-Darling Basin Water Rights Information Service    136

101........ Registrable water rights ................................................................... 136

102........ Registers to which this Part applies ................................................. 136

103........ Murray-Darling Basin Water Rights Information Service ............... 136

Part 6--Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder                             138

Division 1--Establishment and functions                                                        138

104........ Establishment .................................................................................. 138

105........ Functions ........................................................................................ 138

106........ Limitation on disposal of water and Commonwealth environmental water holdings                 139

107........ Limitation on directions to Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder                 140

108........ Meaning of Commonwealth environmental water holdings ........... 140

109........ Operating rules ................................................................................ 141

110........ Application of State laws to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder         142

Division 2--Environmental Water Holdings Special Account            143

111........ Establishment of the Environmental Water Holdings Special Account 143

112........ Credits of amounts to the Account .................................................. 143

113........ Purpose of the Account ................................................................... 144

Division 3--Reporting requirements                                                                 145

114........ Annual report .................................................................................. 145

Division 4--Appointment, staff and delegation                                           146

115........ Appointment ................................................................................... 146

116........ Staff ................................................................................................ 146

117........ Delegation ....................................................................................... 146

Part 7--Water information                                                                                           147

Division 1--Application of this Part                                                                  147

118........ Geographical application of this Part ............................................... 147

119........ Application of this Part limited to certain legislative powers ........... 147

Division 2--Functions and powers of the Bureau and Director of Meteorology              148

120........ Additional functions of the Bureau ................................................. 148

121........ Contents of the National Water Account ......................................... 148

122........ Publishing water accounts ............................................................... 148

123........ Publishing water information .......................................................... 149

Division 3--Water information                                                                            150

124........ Object of this Division .................................................................... 150

125........ Meaning of water information etc. .................................................. 150

126........ Giving of water information to the Bureau ...................................... 150

127........ Director of Meteorology may require water information ................. 151

128........ Prohibitions on disclosure of information do not apply .................. 152

129........ Ownership etc. of information unaffected by its disclosure ............ 152

Division 4--National Water Information Standards                                153

130........ National Water Information Standards ............................................ 153

131........ Adoption of other standards ............................................................ 153

132........ Consultations in preparing National Water Information Standards . 154

133........ Compliance notices ......................................................................... 154

Division 5--Miscellaneous                                                                                      155

134........ Delegation by Director of Meteorology .......................................... 155

135........ Directions by Minister .................................................................... 155

Part 8--Enforcement                                                                                                        156

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                           156

136........ Contraventions to which this Part applies ....................................... 156

137........ Appropriate enforcement agency for contraventions to which this Part applies         156

138........ References to Court ......................................................................... 156

139........ Jurisdiction of Federal Magistrates Court ....................................... 157

Division 2--Injunctions                                                                                            158

140........ Injunctions for contravention of the Act, regulations or rules ......... 158

141........ Discharge or variation of injunctions .............................................. 159

142........ Certain considerations for granting injunctions not relevant ............ 159

143........ Powers conferred are in addition to other powers of the Court ....... 160

Division 3--Declarations                                                                                         161

144........ Declarations of contravention .......................................................... 161

145........ Discharge or variation of declarations ............................................. 161

Division 4--Civil penalties                                                                                      162

Subdivision A--Civil penalty orders                                                                  162

146........ Civil penalty provisions .................................................................. 162

147........ Court may order person to pay pecuniary penalty for contravening civil penalty provision      162

148........ Contravening a civil penalty provision is not an offence ................. 163

149........ Persons involved in contravening civil penalty provision ............... 164

150........ Recovery of a pecuniary penalty ..................................................... 164

Subdivision B--Civil penalty proceedings and criminal proceedings      164

151........ Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings ................................... 164

152........ Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings ............................... 164

153........ Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings ................................... 165

154........ Evidence given in proceedings for penalty not admissible in criminal proceedings   165

Division 5--Infringement notices                                                                        166

155........ Object .............................................................................................. 166

156........ When an infringement notice can be given ...................................... 166

157........ Matters to be included in an infringement notice ............................. 166

158........ Amount of penalty .......................................................................... 167

159........ Withdrawal of an infringement notice ............................................. 167

160........ Paying the penalty in accordance with the notice ............................. 168

161........ Effect of this Division on civil proceedings .................................... 168

162........ Regulations ..................................................................................... 169

Division 6--Enforceable undertakings                                                             170

163........ Acceptance of undertakings relating to contraventions to which this Part applies     170

164........ Enforcement of undertakings .......................................................... 171

Division 7--Enforcement notices                                                                        172

165........ Authority may issue an enforcement notice ..................................... 172

166........ Breach of enforcement notice--civil penalty provision ................... 173

167........ Discharge or variation of enforcement notices ................................ 173

Division 8--Liability of executive officers of corporations                  174

168........ Civil penalties for executive officers of bodies corporate ................ 174

169........ Did an executive officer take reasonable steps to prevent contravention? 174

Division 9--Conduct of directors, employees and agents                      176

170........ Conduct of directors, employees and agents ................................... 176

Part 9--Murray-Darling Basin Authority (administrative provisions) 179

Division 1--Authority's establishment, functions, powers and liabilities               179

171........ Establishment .................................................................................. 179

172........ Authority's functions ...................................................................... 179

173........ Authority's powers ......................................................................... 182

174........ Authority's financial liabilities are Commonwealth liabilities .......... 183

175........ Minister may give directions to Authority ....................................... 183

Division 2--Authority's constitution and membership                            185

Subdivision A--Authority's constitution                                                           185

176........ Authority's constitution .................................................................. 185

Subdivision B--Authority's membership                                                          185

177........ Authority's membership ................................................................. 185

178........ Appointment of Authority members ............................................... 185

179........ Period of appointment for Authority members ................................ 187

180........ Acting Authority members .............................................................. 187

Subdivision C--Terms and conditions for Authority members                  189

181........ Remuneration .................................................................................. 189

182........ Standing obligation to disclose interests .......................................... 189

183........ Obligation to disclose interests before considering a particular matter 189

184........ Chief Executive must keep Minister informed ................................ 190

185........ Outside employment ....................................................................... 191

186........ Member of the governing body of a relevant interest group ............ 191

187........ Leave of absence ............................................................................. 191

188........ Resignation ..................................................................................... 191

189........ Termination of appointment ............................................................ 191

190........ Other terms and conditions ............................................................. 192

Division 3--Decision-making and delegation by Authority                  193

Subdivision A--Meetings                                                                                      193

191........ Holding of meetings ........................................................................ 193

192........ Presiding at meetings ...................................................................... 193

193........ Quorum ........................................................................................... 193

194........ Decisions at meetings etc. ............................................................... 194

195........ Conduct of meetings ....................................................................... 194

196........ Minutes ........................................................................................... 194

Subdivision B--Decisions without meetings                                                     194

197........ Decisions without meetings ............................................................ 194

198........ Record of decisions ......................................................................... 195

Subdivision C--Delegation                                                                                   195

199........ Delegation by Authority .................................................................. 195

200........ Limits on how some functions and powers can be delegated .......... 196

Subdivision D--Basin Officials Committee                                                     196

201........ Basin Officials Committee .............................................................. 196

201A..... Appointment of Chair of the Basin Officials Committee ................. 196

201B..... Acting Chair of the Basin Officials Committee ............................... 197

201C..... Period of appointment for Chair of the Basin Officials Committee . 198

Subdivision E--Other advisory committees                                                    198

202........ Basin Community Committee ......................................................... 198

203........ Other advisory committees .............................................................. 200

204........ Appointments to advisory committees ............................................ 200

205........ Procedural matters ........................................................................... 201

Division 4--Authority's staff etc.                                                                        202

206........ Staff ................................................................................................ 202

207........ Persons assisting Authority ............................................................ 202

208........ Chief Executive not to be directed about certain matters .................. 202

Division 5--Finance and reporting requirements                                      203

Subdivision A--Murray-Darling Basin Special Account                              203

209........ Murray-Darling Basin Special Account .......................................... 203

210........ Credits to the Account ..................................................................... 203

211........ Purposes of the Account ................................................................. 204

Subdivision B--Authority may charge fees                                                     204

212........ Fees ................................................................................................. 204

Subdivision C--Exemption from taxation and charges etc.                        205

213........ Exemption from taxation and charges etc. ....................................... 205

Subdivision CA--Corporate plan                                                                       205

213A..... Corporate plan ................................................................................. 205

213B..... Variation of corporate plan .............................................................. 206

Subdivision D--Reporting requirements                                                          206

214........ Annual report .................................................................................. 206

Division 6--Confidentiality                                                                                    208

215........ Confidentiality ................................................................................. 208

Part 10--Murray-Darling Basin Authority (special powers)                   210

Division 1--Application of this Part                                                                  210

216........ Application of this Part limited to certain legislative powers ........... 210

Division 2--Entry onto land etc.                                                                         212

Subdivision A--Authorised officers                                                                   212

217........ Appointment of authorised officers ................................................. 212

218........ Identity cards ................................................................................... 212

Subdivision B--Powers to enter land etc. other than for compliance purposes              213

219........ When authorised officers can enter premises .................................. 213

220........ Obligations of authorised officers before entering premises ........... 213

221........ Powers of authorised officers while on premises ............................ 214

222........ Duties of authorised officers ........................................................... 215

Subdivision C--Powers to enter land etc. for compliance purposes          216

223........ Entering premises to monitor compliance ........................................ 216

224........ Entering premises to search for evidential material .......................... 216

225........ Monitoring warrants ....................................................................... 217

226........ Contravention-related warrants ....................................................... 218

227........ Contravention-related warrants by telephone, telex, fax etc. ............ 219

228........ Obligations of authorised officers--all cases .................................. 221

229........ Obligations of authorised officers--entry by consent ..................... 221

230........ Obligations of authorised officers--entry by warrant ..................... 222

231........ Use of equipment at premises ......................................................... 222

232........ Expert assistance to operate a thing ................................................. 223

233........ Compensation for damage ............................................................... 224

234........ Offences relating to warrants .......................................................... 224

235........ Subdivision does not apply to authorised officers who are contractors 225

Subdivision D--Other matters                                                                             225

236........ Division not to abrogate privilege against self-incrimination ........... 225

237........ Occupier entitled to be present during entry .................................... 226

Division 3--Information gathering                                                                    227

238........ Power to request information .......................................................... 227

239........ Prohibitions on disclosure of information do not apply .................. 228

Part 10A--Transitional matters relating to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission       229

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                           229

239A..... Definitions ...................................................................................... 229

239B..... Application of this Part ................................................................... 229

Division 2--Assets, liabilities and legal proceedings                                 230

239C..... Vesting of assets of Murray-Darling Basin Commission ............... 230

239D..... River Murray Operations assets unaffected .................................... 230

239E...... Living Murray Initiative assets unaffected ...................................... 231

239F...... Vesting of liabilities of Murray-Darling Basin Commission ........... 231

239G..... Certificates relating to vesting of land etc. ....................................... 232

239H..... Certificates relating to vesting of assets other than land etc. ............ 233

239J...... Substitution of Authority as a party to pending proceedings ........... 233

239K..... Rights to sue President or Commissioner become rights to sue Authority                234

239L...... President's or Commissioner's rights to sue become rights of Authority                 234

239M.... Transfer of custody of Murray-Darling Basin Commission records 235

Division 3--Effect on instruments and things done                                   236

239N..... References in certain instruments to Murray-Darling Basin Commission etc.           236

239P...... Things done by, or in relation to, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission etc. under Acts and instruments             238

239Q..... Things done under the former MDB Agreement ............................ 238

239R..... Continuation of committees established by Murray-Darling Basin Commission      240

239S...... Continuation of Murray-Darling Basin Commission's corporate plan 240

Division 4--Financial matters                                                                               242

239T...... Financial matters ............................................................................. 242

Division 5--Miscellaneous                                                                                      243

239U..... Exemption from stamp duty and other State or Territory taxes ....... 243

239V..... Certificates taken to be authentic ..................................................... 243

239W.... Regulations ..................................................................................... 244

Part 11--Other transitional matters                                                                        245

Division 1--Management of Basin water resources (Part 2)               245

240........ Reference to water resource plan area ............................................. 245

241........ Transitional water resource plans .................................................... 245

242........ Interim water resource plans ........................................................... 246

243........ Transitional water resource plans taken to have been accredited ..... 246

244........ Interim water resource plans taken to have been accredited ............. 247

245........ Operation of transitional water resource plans and interim water resource plans       247

246........ Amendment of transitional water resource plans and interim water resource plans   248

247........ Authority may provide assistance ................................................... 248

Division 2--Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder                 249

248........ The functions of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder prior to Basin Plan taking effect       249

249........ Disposals of water or Commonwealth water holdings prior to Basin Plan taking effect           249

Division 3--Murray-Darling Basin Authority                                             250

250........ First annual report for Authority ..................................................... 250

Part 11A--Interactions with State laws                                                                251

250A..... Meaning of Commonwealth water legislation ................................ 251

250B..... Concurrent operation intended ........................................................ 251

250C..... Commonwealth water legislation does not apply to matters declared by law of referring State to be excluded matters ........................................................................................................ 251

250D..... Avoiding direct inconsistency arising between the Commonwealth water legislation and laws of referring States   252

250E...... Regulations may modify operation of the Commonwealth water legislation to deal with interaction between that legislation and laws of referring States ............................................ 254

Part 12--Miscellaneous                                                                                                   256

251........ Delegation by Minister .................................................................... 256

252........ Instruments not invalid for failure to publish on website ................ 256

252A..... Dataset for Murray-Darling Basin to be publicly available ............. 257

253........ Review of operation of Act ............................................................. 257

254........ Compensation for acquisition of property ....................................... 258

255........ Act does not authorise compulsory acquisition of water access rights 258

255AA.. Mitigation of unintended diversions ................................................ 259

255A..... Application of water charge rules in Basin States that are not referring States          259

255B..... Application of water market rules in Basin States that are not referring States          260

256........ Regulations ..................................................................................... 260

Schedule 1--The Murray-Darling Basin Agreement                                   262

Schedule 1A--The Murray-Darling Basin                                                          535

Schedule 2--Basin water charging objectives and principles                  536

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                          536

1............ Objectives and principles ................................................................ 536

Part 2--Water charging objectives                                                                          537

2............ Water charging objectives ............................................................... 537

Part 3--Water charging principles                                                                          538

3............ Water storage and delivery .............................................................. 538

4............ Cost recovery for planning and management .................................. 539

5............ Environmental externalities ............................................................. 539

6............ Benchmarking and efficiency reviews ............................................. 539

Schedule 3--Basin water market and trading objectives and principles 540

1............ Definitions ...................................................................................... 540

2............ Objectives and principles ................................................................ 540

3............ Basin water market and trading objectives ...................................... 541

4............ Basin water market and trading principles ....................................... 541

Schedule 3A--Risk assignment framework                                                       544

Part 1--Clauses 48 to 50 of the National Water Initiative                         544

Part 2--Clause 10.1.3 of the Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform of 3 July 2008        545

Schedule 4--Transitional water resource plans                                               546

Notes                                                                                                                                            549

  

Notes to the Water Act 2007

Note 1

The Water Act 2007 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 137, 2007 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

The Water Act 2007 was amended by the Water Regulations 2008 (SLI 2008 No. 106 as amended by SLI 2009 No. 184 and SLI 2011 No. 117). The amendments are incorporated in this compilation.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Water Act 2007	137, 2007	3 Sept 2007	Ss. 3-256 and Schedules 1-4: 3 Mar 2008 Remainder: Royal Assent
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Schedule 1 (items 59-69): (a)	--
Water Amendment Act 2008	139, 2008	8 Dec 2008	Schedules 1, 3 and 4: (b) Schedule 2 (items 6-59, 59A, 59B, 60-63, 63A, 63B, 64-106, 106A, 107-161, 161A, 162-165): 15 Dec 2008 (see F2008L04656)	Sch. 3
Statute Law Revision Act 2010	8, 2010	1 Mar 2010	Schedule 1 (items 256-265) and Schedule 5 (items 127-134): Royal Assent	--
Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No. 2) 2010	103, 2010	13 July 2010	Schedule 6 (items 1, 143): 1 Jan 2011	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2011	5, 2011	22 Mar 2011	Schedule 1 (items 118, 119): Royal Assent	--
Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011	46, 2011	27 June 2011	Schedule 2 (items 1176-1183) and Schedule 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011	Sch. 3 (items 10, 11)

(a)     Subsection 2(1) (items 33-43) of the Statute Law Revision Act 2008 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
33.  Schedule 1, item 59	Immediately after the commencement of section 4 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
34.  Schedule 1, item 60	Immediately after the commencement of section 11 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
35.  Schedule 1, item 61	Immediately after the commencement of section 63 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
36.  Schedule 1, item 62	Immediately after the commencement of section 69 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
37.  Schedule 1, item 63	Immediately after the commencement of section 86 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
38.  Schedule 1, item 64	Immediately after the commencement of section 92 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
39.  Schedule 1, item 65	Immediately after the commencement of section 93 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
40.  Schedule 1, item 66	Immediately after the commencement of section 156 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
41.  Schedule 1, item 67	Immediately after the commencement of section 169 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
42.  Schedule 1, item 68	Immediately after the commencement of section 170 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008
43.  Schedule 1, item 69	Immediately after the commencement of section 244 of the Water Act 2007.	3 March 2008

(b)     Subsection 2(1) (items 2-4) of the Water Amendment Act 2008 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
2.  Schedule 1	Immediately after the commencement of the provision(s) covered by table item 3.	15 December 2008
3.  Schedule 2	A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if any of the provision(s) do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the first day after the end of that period.	15 December 2008 (see F2008L04656)
4.  Schedules 3 and 4	Immediately after the commencement of the provision(s) covered by table item 3.	15 December 2008

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
Heading to Div. 1 of Part 1........................................	rep. No. 139, 2008
S. 4......................................	am. Nos. 73 and 139, 2008; No. 8, 2010
S. 5......................................	rs. No. 139, 2008
S. 9......................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Notes 3, 4 to s. 9(1)...........	rep. No. 139, 2008
S. 9A...................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 10....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 11....................................	am. No. 73, 2008
S. 12A.................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Div. 2 of Part 1...................	rep. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 14-18............................	rep. No. 139, 2008
Part 1A
Part 1A................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Division 1
Ss. 18A, 18B.......................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Division 2
Ss. 18C, 18D......................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Division 3
Ss. 18E-18H.......................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Part 2
Division 1
Subdivision B
S. 21....................................	am. No. 139, 2008; No. 8, 2010
Note to s. 21(2)..................	rep. No. 139, 2008
Notes 1, 2 to s. 21(2).........	ad. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 21(3)..................	rep. No. 139, 2008
Notes 1, 2 to s. 21(3).........	ad. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 22(1)..................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 26....................................	am. No. 139, 2008; No. 8, 2010
Subdivision D
Ss. 34-36............................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 37....................................	am. No. 139, 2008; No. 5, 2011
S. 38 ...................................	am. No. 8, 2010
S. 40 ...................................	am. No. 8, 2010
Subdivision E
S. 41....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 43....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 43A.................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 44....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Subdivision F
S. 45....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 47....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 47A.................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 48....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Subdivision G
S. 49A.................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 50....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 51 ...................................	am. No. 8, 2010
Division 2
Subdivision B
S. 56....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Subdivision C
Ss. 59, 60............................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 61....................................	am. No. 139, 2008; No. 5, 2011
S. 62 ...................................	am. No. 8, 2010
Subdivision D
S. 63....................................	am. No. 73, 2008
Subdivision E
S. 68 ...................................	am. No. 8, 2010
S. 69....................................	am. No. 73, 2008
Division 3
S. 73....................................	am. No. 5, 2011
Division 4
Subdivision A
Note 1 to s. 74(2)...............	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 74A.................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 75....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 77....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Subdivision B
S. 81....................................	am. No. 139, 2008; No. 8, 2010
S. 83....................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 86....................................	am. No. 73, 2008
Part 2A
Part 2A................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 86A-86H.......................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 86J..................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Part 4
Part 4..................................	rs. No. 139, 2008
Division 1
S. 91....................................	rs. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 92, 93............................	am. No. 73, 2008
	rs. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 94-96............................	rs. No. 139, 2008
Division 2
Ss. 97-100..........................	rs. No. 139, 2008
Division 3
S. 100A...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
	am. No. 103, 2010
Part 4A
Part 4A................................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 100B, 100C...................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 100D...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
	am. No. 103, 2010
Part 6
Division 1
S. 105..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 108..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Part 7
Division 2
S. 123..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Division 3
S. 125..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Part 8
Division 1
S. 137..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Division 5
S. 156..................................	am. No. 73, 2008
Division 8
S. 169..................................	am. No. 73, 2008
Division 9
S. 170..................................	am. No. 73, 2008
Part 9
Division 1
S. 172..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 172(1)(b)...........	rs. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 172(1)(c)...........	rs. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 172(1)................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 173..................................	rs. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 174(1)................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 175..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Division 2
Subdivision B
Ss. 177, 178........................	am. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 178(1)................	rs. No. 46, 2011
S. 179..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 179(2)................	rs. No. 46, 2011
Subhead. to s. 180(2)........	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 180..................................	am. No. 139, 2008; No. 46, 2011
Note to s. 180(1A)..............	ad. No. 46, 2011
Notes to s. 180(1), (2).......	ad. No. 46, 2011
Subdivision C
Heading to s. 184 .............	am. No. 8, 2010
Ss. 184, 185........................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 187..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 189..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Division 3
Subdivision D
Heading to Subdiv. D of... Div. 3 of Part 9	rs. No. 139, 2008
Subhead. to s. 201(2)........	rep. No. 139, 2008
S. 201..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 201A...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 201A(1)..............	rs. No. 46, 2011
S. 201B...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
	am. No. 46, 2011
Note to s. 201B(1)..............	ad. No. 46, 2011
S. 201C...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Subdivision E
Heading to Subdiv. E of.... Div. 3 of Part 9	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 202..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 202(2)................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 204..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 204(1)................	rs. No. 46, 2011
S. 205..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Division 4
S. 206..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Note to s. 207.....................	am. No. 139, 2008
Heading to s. 208..............	am. No. 139, 2008
S. 208..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Division 5
Subdivision A
Ss. 210, 211........................	am. No. 139, 2008
Subdivision B
S. 212..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Subdivision CA
Subdiv. CA of Div. 5 of ..... Part 9	ad. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 213A, 213B...................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Subdivision D
S. 214..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Part 10
Division 1
S. 216..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Part 10A
Part 10A..............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Division 1
Ss. 239A, 239B...................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Division 2
Ss. 239C-239H..................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 239J-239M...................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Division 3
S. 239N...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 239P-239S...................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Division 4
S. 239T...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Division 5
Ss. 239U-239W.................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Part 11
Heading to Part 11............	rs. No. 139, 2008
Division 1
S. 244..................................	am. No. 73, 2008
S. 246..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Division 2
Note to s. 248.....................	am. No. 139, 2008
Part 11A
Part 11A..............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Ss. 250A-250E...................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Part 12
S. 252A...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 255A............................... Renumbered s. 255AA ..	ad. No. 139, 2008 No. 8, 2010
S. 255A...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 255B...............................	ad. No. 139, 2008
S. 256..................................	am. No. 139, 2008
Schedule 1
Schedule 1.........................	rs. No. 139, 2008
	am. SLI 2008 No. 106 (as am. by SLI 2009 No. 184; SLI 2011 No. 117)
Schedule 1A
Schedule 1A.......................	ad. No. 139, 2008
Schedule 2
Schedule 2.........................	am. No. 139, 2008
Schedule 3A
Schedule 3A.......................	ad. No. 139, 2008

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Water Amendment Act 2008 (No. 139, 2008)

Schedule 3

1  Accrued leave (other than long service leave)

(1)       If:

                     (a)  a person's employment by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission ended on the commencement of Schedule 1; and

                     (b)  the person became an employee of the Authority on that commencement;

then:

                     (c)  the Murray-Darling Basin Commission is not required to pay the person an amount in relation to accrued leave that the person has not taken as at that commencement; and

                     (d)  the Authority must recognise that accrued leave, in relation to the person's employment with the Authority, as if it were leave in relation to periods of service with the Authority.

(2)       This item does not apply in relation to long service leave.

(3)       This item applies despite subsection 235(2) of the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

2  Long service leave

If a person's employment by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission ended on the commencement of Schedule 1, and the person became an employee of the Authority on that commencement:

                     (a)  sections 11A, 11B and 11C of the Long Service Leave Act 1976 of the Australian Capital Territory do not apply in relation to the person's employment by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission that ended on that commencement; and

Note:       This means the person's long service leave entitlements are carried over to the person's employment by the Authority (and not paid out under section 11A, 11B or 11C of the Long Service Leave Act 1976 of the Australian Capital Territory).

                     (b)  the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976 does not apply in relation to the person's employment by the Authority that started on that commencement; and

                     (c)  the Long Service Leave Act 1976 of the Australian Capital Territory (the ACT law) applies in relation to the person's employment by the Authority that started on that commencement; and

                     (d)  for the purposes of applying the ACT law:

                              (i)  the person's period of service with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission that ended on that commencement; and

                             (ii)  any other period of service of the person that, immediately before that commencement, was counted as service with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission for the purposes of the application of the ACT law in relation to the person;

                            are taken to be the person's period of service with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission.

3  Authority staff engaged after the commencement of Schedule 1

(1)       If:

                     (a)  immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1, the Authority is, because of section 585 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996, bound by a collective agreement (within the meaning of that Act) that, immediately before that commencement, bound the Commission; and

                     (b)  a person is engaged as a member of the Authority staff after that commencement but before the Authority ceases, under that Act, to be bound by the collective agreement; and

                     (c)  the person is not engaged as an SES employee; and

                     (d)  the person is not a transferring employee within the meaning of Part 11 of that Act;

that Part applies in relation to the person as if the person were such a transferring employee in relation to the collective agreement.

(2)       However:

                     (a)  this section does not apply to the extent (if any) that the person's terms and conditions of employment are provided for under a law of the Commonwealth; and

                     (b)  this section ceases to apply to the person if the person becomes an SES employee of the Authority.

4  Appointment of the Chief Executive

The person who, immediately before the commencement of Schedule 2, was acting as the Authority Chair is taken, from that commencement, to be the Chief Executive as if he or she had been appointed under section 178 of the Water Act 2007 as amended by this Act.

5  Performance of Authority functions etc. before a quorum is appointed

(1)       Until this item ceases to apply under subitem (2):

                     (a)  the Chief Executive may perform any of the functions of the Authority and exercise any of its powers; and

                     (b)  anything done by the Chief Executive in performing those functions or exercising those powers is taken to have been done by the Authority.

(2)       This item ceases to apply:

                     (a)  at the end of the period of 6 months, or such longer period specified in the regulations, after the commencement of Schedule 2; or

                     (b)  when sufficient members of the Authority have been appointed to constitute a quorum of members at a meeting of the Authority;

whichever happens first.

(3)       Regulations for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a) must not specify a period exceeding 12 months.

6  Authorised officers

(1)       After the commencement of Schedule 1, a person who:

                     (a)  is a member of the Authority staff; and

                     (b)  was, immediately before that commencement, a person:

                              (i)  authorised by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission under section 14 of the Murray-Darling Basin Act 1992 of New South Wales; or

                             (ii)  authorised by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission under section 13 of the Murray-Darling Basin Act 1993 of Victoria; or

                            (iii)  authorised by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission under section 13 of the Murray-Darling Basin Act 1993 of South Australia;

                            is taken to be an authorised officer.

(2)       However, unless the person is appointed as an authorised officer under section 217 of the Water Act 2007 as amended by this Act, he or she can only exercise the powers of an authorised officer to the extent that the powers are exercised in relation to the Authority's functions under Part 1A of that Act.

7  Delegation to the Chief Executive

The Authority is taken, immediately after the commencement of Schedule 1, to have delegated under section 199 of the Water Act 2007 as amended by this Act all of its functions and powers under that Act (other than its functions and powers under Subdivisions E, F and G of Division 1 of Part 2) to the Chief Executive.

8  Indemnity

(1)       The Commonwealth must indemnify:

                     (a)  a person appointed in accordance with subclause 20(1) of the former MDB Agreement as the President; or

                     (b)  a person appointed in accordance with subclause 20(3) of the former MDB Agreement as the Deputy President of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission;

for any liability that he or she incurs for an act or omission of the person, before the commencement of Schedule 1, in the course of performing his or her duties as the President or Deputy President (including, in the case of the Deputy President, his or her duties when acting as the President).

Note:       The Agreement provides for the Basin States to indemnify the Commonwealth for a share of the costs associated with any indemnity covered by this subitem.

(2)       The Commonwealth must indemnify a Commissioner for any liability:

                     (a)  to which subitem (1) does not apply; and

                     (b)  that the Commissioner incurs for an act or omission of the Commissioner, before the commencement of Schedule 1, in the course of performing his or her duties as a Commissioner.

Note:       The Agreement provides for the State in relation to whom the Commissioner was appointed to indemnify the Commonwealth for the costs associated with any indemnity covered by this subitem.

(3)       The Commonwealth must indemnify an officer (within the meaning of the former MDB Agreement) for any liability that the officer incurs for an act or omission of the officer, before the commencement of Schedule 1, in the course of performing his or her duties as an officer.

Note:       The Agreement provides for the Basin States to indemnify the Commonwealth for a share of the costs associated with any indemnity covered by this subitem.

(4)       This item only applies if the liability arose from an act or omission in good faith.

9  Regulations

(1)       Without limiting subsection 256(1) of the Water Act 2007, regulations under that subsection may provide for:

                     (a)  the transfer of employees from the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to the Authority, including the preservation of some or all of the entitlements and obligations of the employees of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission; or

                     (b)  staffing procedures of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to apply, or to continue to apply, in relation to:

                              (i)  processes begun before, but not completed by, the time this Part commences; or

                             (ii)  things done by, for or in relation to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission or an employee of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission before that time; or

                     (c)  staffing procedures of the Authority to apply in relation to:

                              (i)  processes begun before, but not completed by, that time; or

                             (ii)  things done by, for or in relation to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission before that time.

(2)       Regulations made for the purposes of this item have effect despite the Public Service Act 1999.

(3)       In this item:

staffing procedures includes procedures and policies related to:

                     (a)  recruitment, promotion or performance management; or

                     (b)  inefficiency, misconduct, forfeiture of position, fitness for duty or loss of essential qualifications; or

                     (c)  disciplinary action, grievance processes or reviews of or appeals against staffing decisions; or

                     (d)  transfers, resignations or termination of employment; or

                     (e)  leave.

Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011 (No. 46, 2011)

Schedule 3

10  Saving--appointments

The amendments made by Schedule 2 do not affect the validity of an appointment that was made under an Act before the commencement of this item and that was in force immediately before that commencement.

11  Transitional regulations

The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments and repeals made by Schedules 1 and 2.