Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Spoke in favour of the bill, highlighting government investment in water infrastructure in regional Queensland including Paradise Dam restoration and irrigation discounts for growers.

“It is only our government that is standing up for Nationals held electorates. It is only Labor governments that look after those who live in electorates represented by members of the National Party.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supports better water management but has concerns about costs for irrigators, unrealistic deadlines for meter validation, and potential overland flow regulation being extended beyond Murray-Darling Basin without consultation.

“We certainly support the best use of water. In fact, water will be one of our greatest assets in the future. It is so scarce now, but it still does not have the appreciation that it should.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

As the sponsoring minister, presented the bill to strengthen water measurement across Queensland, implement the non-urban water measurement policy, and meet Murray-Darling Basin commitments.

“At its core, this bill is about strengthening water measurement across Queensland. In particular, it establishes a clear and transparent framework to implement Queensland's strengthened non-urban water management policy.”— 2023-05-25View Hansard

Raised significant concerns about compliance costs for farmers, the scope of telemetry requirements, and the broad discretionary powers given to the chief executive, while acknowledging the need for water measurement reform.

“The explanatory notes say virtually nothing about the enormous compliance costs this will mean for the farmers, let alone any plan to properly compensate them for those costs.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supports the bill as part of Queensland's national commitment to accurately measure water in the Murray-Darling Basin, noting federal funding available for telemetry and efforts to reduce costs for water users.

“It is very clear that the state government has committed to be part of the national measures, to which we have all committed, to accurately measure the water taken out of the Murray-Darling Basin.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Indicated general support for the legislation but raised concerns about implementation costs for landholders and stakeholder feedback suggesting government funding would be insufficient.

“The cost of implementing the proposed regulations is a major concern for landholders. Stakeholder feedback suggests that government funding will not be sufficient to cover the expenses and will lead to increased prices for fruit and vegetables due to increased overheads.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Distrusts government water measurement policies, seeing them as a prelude to future pricing regimes and restrictions on farmers, based on his experience with inaccurate government water flow data.

“I have developed a mistrust of the government on anything to do with natural resources. It starts innocently enough with everyone trying to conserve water and measure it, but then in the next few years we will have to defend a new pricing regime in a water catchment area.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as delivering a key government commitment, praising the minister's work on water security for regional communities including Longreach.

“I rise to support the Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2022. The bill delivers a key government commitment by strengthening water measurement in Queensland.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Strongly supports the bill as delivering on the government's commitment to improve water management, highlighting significant water infrastructure investments across regional Queensland.

“Water security is the key to the prosperity of the Queensland economy. The Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 delivers a key milestone in this government's commitment to improve water management and ensures regulatory frameworks remain effective.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Expressed distrust of Labor's water management based on past experience with overland flow moratorium, but acknowledged support for fair and efficient water management arrangements and digital measurement advances.

“When it comes to the Labor Party and managing water, I do not have trust. Nearly 22 years ago, in a first interaction between the Labor Party and irrigators from the Central Highlands—without consultation, without a letter to us or anything—the Labor Party of the Beattie era put a moratorium on overland flow in the Fitzroy Basin.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Will not oppose the bill but raised significant concerns about unrealistic meter validation deadlines, costs to irrigators, lack of consultation, and potential expansion of overland flow measurement beyond Murray-Darling Basin. Moved amendment to exclude stock and domestic water from measurement requirements.

“From the outset I want to confirm that the LNP opposition will not stand in the way of this bill... However, there are issues and flaws with this legislation that I want to place on record.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Supported the bill based on past experience in water resource management, emphasising that accurate measurement creates harmonious relationships between producers and resolves disputes about upstream water take.

“Accurately measuring water take will benefit communities, industry and the environment. It will provide transparency and an assurance that water is being appropriately shared and managed.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Expressed distrust of the government's motives, concerned the bill may be a revenue raiser, criticised the lack of transparency around regulations, and questioned whether there are enough qualified installers for meters in regional areas.

“It always worries me when we see a government trying to change things to make them more accurate. In this case, they are talking about installing water meters in places that did not have water meters or where they want to install more accurate water meters.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Outlined stakeholder concerns about implementation costs, the level of consultation, and the impact on rural communities, while representing views from the Mary Basin water plan area.

“It is reasonable to expect that, because of increased overheads from this government, out-of-pocket expenses will be passed on to consumers, resulting in increased fruit and vegetable prices. This is a burden that will impact everyday Queenslanders who are already struggling with the increased cost of living.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supports the bill and highlighted the 80 per cent telemetry subsidy (up to $4,000 per device) available to Murray-Darling Basin irrigators, defending the minister's work on water infrastructure.

“In terms of the telemetry subsidy, the eligibility will be those Queensland Murray-Darling Basin catchment areas where we would be requiring telemetry through a legislative requirement. It will be an 80 per cent subsidy, so 80 per cent of the costs would be subsidised, up to $4,000 per device.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Noted the committee's recommendation that the bill be passed and highlighted the exemplary groundwater management in the Coastal Burnett area with very high compliance rates.

“The committee made four recommendations, the first being that the bill be passed. At its core this bill is about strengthening water measurement across Queensland.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Strongly supported the reforms as critical for water security, citing climate change impacts on water availability and the benefits of real-time reporting from firsthand farming experience.

“These reforms are so critical. They strengthen the policies and frameworks, and in doing so provide enormous benefits across the board. They include better resource management, protection and water security.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Raised practical questions about implementation in her electorate including multiple metering devices needed for overland flow users and local government water supply, while supporting the shadow minister's amendments.

“I place on record that I support the amendments proposed by the shadow minister for water, Deb Frecklington. These amendments will clarify that stock and domestic use from overland flow is excluded from metering across the entirety of the state.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill's focus on water measurement policy, dam safety amendments and sustainable water resource management, particularly highlighting the importance of dam safety preparedness following the 2022 floods.

“A thorough and modern water measurement policy to improve the way that water is measured and reported in Queensland is absolutely essential in ensuring that our precious water resources are well managed not only now but into the future.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Discussed water security and the impacts of federal water buyback schemes on regional communities, criticised government dam policy, but acknowledged the bill aims to assist water security.

“This bill is intended to assist in ensuring that we have water security in Queensland.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill emphasising the importance of equity in water distribution and preventing farmers from taking more than their share, drawing on family experience with irrigation.

“We do not want to see a farmer taking from other farmers. We want to see it done right. That is what this legislation is about.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Broadly supportive of measuring water take but raised significant concerns about stock and domestic metering, contractor availability for rollout, and the broad powers granted to the chief executive.

“Like many of this bill's stakeholders, I object to the idea that that water would be metered. I suspect that the metering of it would lead to the obvious conclusion one day that it be charged for, and that is something that definitely scares the people in my neck of the woods.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as establishing a clear and transparent framework for water measurement, emphasising the importance of water for farming and mining industries.

“Water is the most vital resource we have, so it is important that it is well managed. Water preserves our environment, sustains our communities and is a vital input for the farming and mining industries which are the backbone of Queensland's rural economy.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Criticised government's dam-building record and expressed concerns about vague reassurances that the bill would not lead to regulation of farm dams and overland flow outside Murray-Darling Basin, while acknowledging some provisions are reasonable.

“As the shadow minister for water indicated in her contribution, there are aspects of this legislation that are reasonable and considered, and we support those provisions. Unfortunately, however, based on the track record of the Palaszczuk Labor government I personally have concerns about the vague reassurances from the minister.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, highlighting the importance of water security for Australia as the second-driest continent and the amendments ensuring dam emergency action plans are reviewed before wet season.

“The bill includes an amendment to ensure emergency action plans for Queensland's 114 referable dams are reviewed and approved well ahead of the start of each wet season. We know that is a vital thing that needs to be done to ensure security.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as delivering a key milestone in the government's commitment to improve water management, highlighting record investment in water infrastructure.

“Water security is the key to the prosperity of Queensland, the economy and the Queensland people. The Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 delivers a key milestone in this government's commitment to improve water management and ensures regulatory frameworks remain effective.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard