Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Spoke in favour of the bill, emphasising the government's investment in water infrastructure and the importance of strengthened water measurement for regional Queensland.

“I reinforce the point: 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

As deputy chair of the examining committee, supported the principle of water measurement but raised concerns about the potential for overland flow measurement requirements to be extended statewide without proper consultation and the cost burden on farmers who already use practical measurement methods.

“Please don't place an imposition on the community in those areas that do not have meters at the present time. Use some practical approaches.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Strongly opposed the bill, warning it is stage 1 of a much larger agenda to fully automate and centralise the water system. Raised concerns about enormous compliance costs for farmers, government surveillance of on-farm activities, and the potential for water rationing through telemetry devices.

“Transitioning the grid to an electronic, AI and sensor-driven system will mean that government regulators can pretty much manage the whole system remotely using its many levers of control to dictate when farmers can pump and when they cannot—or whether they can pump at all.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as a committee member, emphasising it relates specifically to the Murray-Darling Basin and noting the $22 million in federal funding for telemetry, the growing acceptance of telemetry for measurement, and that the bill builds a clear and transparent regulatory framework.

“Whether it is surface or underground water, we need to measure how much water is being taken. Everyone agrees on the need to manage this resource and make sure we accurately measure water.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Supported the bill as Minister for Resources, highlighting the importance of water security and dam safety provisions, and the government's investment in the Haughton pipeline and Burdekin Falls Dam.

“Making sure the community and all water users have confidence in how our rural water resources are used is important, which is why this bill is about improving the measurement of that precious resource.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Expressed deep distrust of government intervention in water management, arguing that metering and overland flow measurement typically lead to pricing regimes and cutbacks for water users. Cited examples of inaccurate government water flow data and perverse outcomes from water utility operations.

“Where I come from, more scrutiny from the government is usually not a good thing.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Supported the intent of improved water measurement but raised concerns about implementation costs, insufficient consultation with stakeholders, and the need to exempt stock and domestic water use from metering requirements.

“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

Supported the bill, highlighting the government's investment of over $510 million in water infrastructure and planning, and noting that measurement plans for overland flow water licences in the Murray-Darling Basin are supported by irrigators.

“Water security is the key to the prosperity of the Queensland economy.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Supported the bill, drawing on his experience growing up in Longreach to explain how water metering has saved regional communities and noting the staged implementation approach.

“Now in regional areas they are talking about how water meters and the proper use of water have saved the Longreach community following the influx of tourists.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

As shadow minister for water, confirmed the LNP would not oppose the bill but raised significant concerns about unrealistic compliance deadlines for meter revalidation, the cost burden on irrigators, ambiguity over whether overland flow measurement could extend beyond the Murray-Darling Basin, and lack of consultation. Foreshadowed an amendment to exclude stock and domestic water use from overland flow measurement.

“Is it to start the process in the Murray-Darling Basin and gradually, quietly, move measurement of overland flow to cover all farm dams across Queensland?”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Supported modernisation of water metering but expressed deep distrust of Labor's management of water policy. Raised concerns about the cost of meters (up to $30,000), unfair treatment of rural versus urban water users, and urged exemption of stock and domestic water licences from metering.

“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

Expressed concerns about the bill potentially being a revenue raiser, the lack of transparency around the regulation detail, shortages of duly qualified meter installers in regional areas, and the government's failure to consult key stakeholders like the Border Rivers Food and Fibre group.

“This legislation provides a head of power under the regulation for the minister to make changes. When the department talks about there being no 'current' proposal to increase revenue that indicates to me that this regulation, which none of us have seen by the way, could make those changes.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Supported the bill based on his past experience in water resource management in South-West Queensland, noting that accurate measurement creates more harmonious relationships between water users and that stock and domestic use is already exempt under the policy.

“When we are talking about volumetric entitlements, accurate measurement can go a long way to creating somewhat more harmonious relationships locally.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill and the minister's work, noting the 80 per cent telemetry subsidy of up to $4,000 per device for Murray-Darling Basin catchment areas and the importance of water infrastructure investment including Paradise Dam.

“It is important to put on record that the Palaszczuk government and the current federal Albanese government are working hard for growers and as legislative requirements change that support remains.”— 2023-09-13View Hansard

Raised significant concerns about the cost of implementation for landholders, insufficient consultation, and ambiguity about whether overland flow measurement extends beyond the Murray-Darling Basin. Supported the LNP's amendment to exclude stock and domestic use.

“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.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, highlighting its importance for Central Queensland's agricultural industries and the Rural Water Futures program for improving sustainable water management.

“Having accurate information about how much water is taken from our river catchments and aquifers is crucial to sustainable water resource management. This ensures everyone can access their fair share of this precious resource.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Acknowledged the bill's core purpose of strengthening water measurement but raised detailed local concerns about meter revalidation costs in the Burnett region, unattainable deadlines, and called for the government to fund the full cost of compliance as in the Murray-Darling Basin.

“A complete rethink and amending of the regulation is warranted, given that the exercise will cost more than $2 million and achieve very little, if anything.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill, emphasising the importance of water planning for climate resilience and noting that agricultural, environmental and resource stakeholders all agreed on measuring water take. Criticised the opposition's record on water policy.

“This committee report provides a rare occurrence—where you have the agriculture, resource and environment stakeholders all in agreement when it comes to measuring water take.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the shadow minister's amendments and raised concerns about telemetry working in remote areas, costs for local governments, administrative burden of annual registration reviews, and the need for clarity on First Nations water rights in the Murray-Darling Basin.

“I seek the minister's advice regarding his assurances around stock and domestic entitlements. Will these assurances extend to local governments, who often have water supply entitlements for domestic supply?”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, focusing on dam safety provisions and their importance for communities devastated by the 2022 floods, and the government's record of water infrastructure investment.

“On behalf of a community that was absolutely devastated by the 2022 floods, we know all too well that you cannot be too prepared for extreme weather events.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the intent of water measurement but raised concerns about implementation costs, the impact of water buybacks on regional communities, and called for building more dams. Urged support for the LNP amendment to exempt stock and domestic water.

“We already know how the government has stripped away property rights in this state, without adequate compensation in a lot of instances. Again, unfortunately this adds to that.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, emphasising the importance of water metering for equity between water users and drawing on his family's farming background to explain why proper measurement prevents unfair water taking.

“So often we would be going along the irrigation canals and come across a farmer who had propped open their gates in order to get water that they were not genuinely measuring or paying for. That is why this is so important.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Broadly supported the bill's intent to measure water take responsibly but raised concerns about metering stock and domestic usage, contractor availability for meter rollout, and warned the government to be flexible in implementation based on past departmental bungling with irrigation meter deadlines.

“This march to metering and telemetry, whilst on paper is a good thing, has to be done well. If it is not done well, it will be an impost on the individual irrigators who are just trying to make a buck.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, highlighting the importance of accurate water data for sustainable management, the Rural Water Futures program, and the bill's provisions for measurement of both simple and complex water takes.

“One of the keys to sustainable water resource management is having accurate data on how much water is taken from river catchments and aquifers. By having precise information, everyone is able to access their fair share of water.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Expressed serious concerns that the bill provides scope for the government to regulate farm dams and overland flow outside the Murray-Darling Basin in the future. Raised concerns about implementation costs and asked the minister to categorically rule out extending regulation to existing farm dams.

“I personally have concerns about the vague reassurances from the minister that this bill will not result in the regulation of farm dams and captured overland flow outside the Murray-Darling basin.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, focusing on the importance of dam safety emergency action plans, service provider registration requirements, and the government's investment in water security for Far North Queensland.

“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.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, highlighting the modernisation of water authority board administration and the government's broader investment in water infrastructure across Queensland.

“The bill will extend the maximum term for the water authority board members from three to four years, and this aligns more contemporary arrangements for other Queensland government boards.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard

As Minister for Water, summed up the debate confirming stock and domestic water is already exempt from metering requirements, announced opposition to the LNP amendment as unnecessary, and emphasised the bill's phased, risk-based implementation approach starting with the Murray-Darling Basin.

“Let me be clear. Stock and domestic are already exempt from the metering requirements. Other low-risk new entitlements of five megalitres or less per year are also exempt.”— 2023-09-14View Hansard