[Index] [Search] [Download] [Help]
This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
South Australia
Murray-Darling Basin (Amending Agreement) Amendment
Bill 2007
A BILL FOR
An Act to amend the Murray-Darling Basin Act 1993.
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Short
title
2 Commencement
3 Amendment provisions
Part 2—Amendment of Murray-Darling Basin
Act 1993
4 Amendment of section
4—Interpretation
5 Insertion of section
5B
5B Approval of Amending Agreement
2006
6 Insertion of Schedule 3
Schedule 3—Murray-Darling Basin Agreement Amending Agreement
2006
The Parliament of South Australia enacts as
follows:
This Act may be cited as the Murray-Darling Basin (Amending Agreement)
Amendment Act 2007.
This Act will come into operation on a day to be fixed by
proclamation.
In this Act, a provision under a heading referring to the amendment of a
specified Act amends the Act so specified.
Part 2—Amendment
of Murray-Darling Basin
Act 1993
4—Amendment of
section 4—Interpretation
(1) Section 4(1), definition of Agreement—after
paragraph (b) insert:
and
(c) amended by the Amending Agreement 2006;
(2) Section 4(1)—after the definition of Amending
Agreement insert:
Amending Agreement 2006 means the Murray-Darling Basin
Agreement Amending Agreement 2006 that was made on 14 July 2006
(as revised by the Ministerial Council on 29 September 2006), the text
of which is set out in Schedule 3;
After section 5A insert:
5B—Approval of Amending Agreement
2006
The Amending Agreement 2006 is approved.
Note—
The copy of the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement Amending Agreement 2006 set
out in Schedule 3 incorporates the revisions that were endorsed by the
Ministerial Council on 29 September 2006. Those revisions
were—
(a) in proposed new sub-clause 75(3), set out in
paragraph 18(3), "Agreement" to be substituted for "agreement";
(b) paragraph 20(2) to omit both sub-clauses (2) and (3) of
clause 78 instead of only omitting sub-clause (2).
After Schedule 2 insert:
Schedule 3—Murray-Darling Basin Agreement Amending
Agreement 2006
AGREEMENT made this fourteenth day of July 2006
between
THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (the "Commonwealth"),
THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES ("New South Wales"),
THE STATE OF VICTORIA ("Victoria"),
THE STATE OF QUEENSLAND ("Queensland"),
THE STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA ("South Australia"),
and
THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY ("Australian Capital
Territory").
WHEREAS on 24 June 1992, the Commonwealth, New South
Wales, Victoria and South Australia entered into the Murray-Darling Basin
Agreement which:
(a) was approved by the Parliament of the Commonwealth and the Parliaments
of the said States; and
(b) has subsequently been deemed to be amended from time to time under
clause 50 or 134 of that Murray-Darling Basin Agreement; and
(c) was amended by the Murray-Darling Basin Amending Agreement made on
3 June 2002,
(together called the "Principal Agreement"):
AND WHEREAS under the provisions of clause 134 of the Principal
Agreement, Queensland became a party to the Principal Agreement on the terms set
out in Schedule D to the Principal Agreement:
AND WHEREAS under the provisions of clause 134 of the Principal
Agreement, that Agreement was amended in May 2006 by the decision of the
Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council to consent to the Australian Capital
Territory becoming a party to the Principal Agreement;
AND WHEREAS the parties wish to further amend the Principal
Agreement to facilitate the operation of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission's
water business on appropriate commercial principles and for other
reasons;
AND WHEREAS the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council has
approved the provisions set out below on 23 July 2003 and 30 September
2005:
THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
In this agreement, a reference to a clause, sub-clause, paragraph,
sub-paragraph, Schedule or Appendix is a reference to a clause, sub-clause,
paragraph, sub-paragraph, Schedule or Appendix of or to the Principal Agreement,
respectively.
(1) Omit "67(1)(a)" from the definition of "annual estimates." Insert
instead "68(1)(a)".
(2) Insert in alphabetical order:
""Commission's water business" means those activities of the
Commission relating to:
(a) the construction, operation, maintenance and renewal of works on,
adjacent to, or connected to the upper River Murray or the River Murray in South
Australia; and
(b) the execution of the provisions of this Agreement concerning sharing
water between State Contracting Governments; and
(c) the provision of other services relating to water, to State
Contracting Governments and other persons;
"financial year" means the twelve months beginning on 1
July;".
(3) Omit all the words after "out" in the definition of "Commonwealth
auditor". Insert instead "an audit referred to in
sub-paragraph 78(1)(a)(i)".
(4) After the word "programs" in the definition of "measures" insert
"(including any activities for the purpose of conserving or enhancing the
environment) but does not include any activities of the Commission's water
business".
(5) Omit all the words after "out" in the definition of "State auditor".
Insert instead "an audit referred to in paragraph 78(1)(b)".
(6) Omit the definition of "supplementary estimates".
Omit clause 49. Insert instead:
(1) Works or measures from time to time included in a Schedule to this
Agreement or authorised pursuant to clause 50 must be constructed, operated,
maintained, renewed or implemented (as the case may require):
(a) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and any Acts
approving the same; and
(b) by the Contracting Government from time to time nominated by the
Ministerial Council for the purpose.
(2) A Contracting Government described as a "Nominated Government" in
Schedule A with respect to a work is deemed to have been nominated by the
Ministerial Council under paragraph 49(1)(b) to construct, operate, maintain and
renew that work, until the Ministerial Council nominates another Contracting
Government for one or more of those purposes, with respect to that
work.".
(1) After "$2,000,000" in sub-clause (2) insert ", or such other amount
determined by the Ministerial Council from time to time".
(2) After "$2,000,000" in sub-clause (3) insert ", or such other amount
determined by the Ministerial Council from time to time".
After "$1,000,000" in sub-clause (2) insert ", or such other amount
determined by the Ministerial Council from time to time,".
After "$2,000,000" in sub-clause (5) insert ", or such other amount
determined by the Ministerial Council from time to time".
After "$2,000,000" in sub-clause (1) insert ", or such other amount
determined by the Ministerial Council from time to time".
(1) Omit the words "construction or maintenance" from paragraph (3)(a).
Insert instead:
":
(i) investigations, construction and administration; or
(ii) major or cyclic maintenance; or
(iii) operation and maintenance,".
(2) After "as" in sub-clause (4) insert "operation and".
Omit "this or the former Agreement". Insert instead
"paragraph 49(1)(b)".
Omit the words "which constructed a work under this or the former
Agreement". Insert instead "nominated to operate a work pursuant to
paragraph 49(1)(b)".
Omit clause 65. Insert instead:
"Definitions
65. In this Part:
"annuity contribution" has the meaning set out in sub-clause
67(2);
"financial accommodation" means a financial benefit or assistance to
obtain a financial benefit arising from or as a result of:
(a) a loan;
(b) issuing, endorsing or otherwise dealing in promissory notes;
(c) drawing, accepting, endorsing or otherwise dealing in bills of
exchange;
(d) issuing, purchasing or otherwise dealing in securities;
(e) granting or taking a lease of any real or personal property for
financing but not for operating purposes;
(f) any other arrangement approved by the Ministerial Council;
"investigations, construction and administration costs" means the
costs of:
(a) investigating and constructing works set out in Schedule A;
and
(b) investigating and constructing any other works and implementing
measures authorised under this Agreement; and
(c) studies, programs, surveys and investigations carried out pursuant to
clause 39; and
(d) establishing systems referred to in clause 41; and
(e) systems established pursuant to a request made under
paragraph 43(b); and
(f) special action taken under sub-clause 48(5) which the Ministerial
Council has determined to be investigations, construction and administration
costs; and
(g) any payment by the Commission in respect of the construction of works
under sub-clause 51(1); and
(h) complying with the direction given under sub-clause 54(2);
and
(i) dismantling works referred to in sub-clause 64(2); and
(j) any payment by the Commission under paragraph 131(a); and
(k) administrative and other expenses of the Commission, the Ministerial
Council and the Community Advisory Committee constituted under sub-clause
14(1);
"major or cyclic maintenance" has a meaning determined by reference
to the guidelines established by the Commission under sub-clause
67(4);
"operation and maintenance costs" means the costs of:
(a) operating and maintaining works set out in Schedule A; and
(b) operating and maintaining any other works authorised under this
Agreement; and
(c) operating and maintaining systems referred to in clause 41;
and
(d) operating and maintaining systems established pursuant to a request
made under paragraph 43(b); and
(e) special action taken under sub-clause 48(5) which the Ministerial
Council has determined to be operation and maintenance costs; and
(f) any payment made by the Commission in respect of the operation or
maintenance of works under sub-clause 51(1); and
(g) such dredging or snagging carried out under clause 61 which the
Commission has resolved to meet; and
(h) any payment made by the Commission under
paragraph 131(b);
"security" includes inscribed stock and debenture, bond, debenture
stock, note or any other document creating, evidencing or acknowledging
indebtedness in respect of financial accommodation, whether constituting a
charge on property of the Commission or not.".
Omit clause 66. Insert instead:
"Apportionment of Costs
66.
(1) The Ministerial Council, after considering any recommendation of the
Commission, must determine:
(a) what contribution, if any, is to be made by any State or Territory
becoming a party pursuant to clause 134; and
(b) whether some or all of that contribution is to be made as a lump sum
or in a comparable manner to a manner provided for in sub-clause 66(3), (4) or
67(2).
(2) Subject to sub-clause 66(1), the Ministerial Council:
(a) may, on the recommendation of the Commission, from time to time
determine which proportion of the services provided by the Commission's water
business is attributable to each State Contracting Government; and
(b) must, at intervals not exceeding five years, reconsider the
proportions determined under paragraph 66(2)(a); and
(c) may, on the recommendation of the Commission, alter the proportions
determined under paragraph 66(2)(a).
(3) Unless the Ministerial Council decides otherwise and subject to any
decision of the Ministerial Council under sub-clause 66(1), a State
Contracting Government must contribute to operation and maintenance costs in the
relevant proportion determined under sub-clause 66(2).
(4) Unless the Ministerial Council decides otherwise and subject to any
decision by the Ministerial Council under sub-clause 66(1) and the
provisions of clause 67:
(a) the Commonwealth Government must contribute one-quarter of all
investigations, construction and administration costs after first deducting any
contribution to those costs made by any State or Territory:
(i) becoming a party pursuant to clause 134; or
(ii) pursuant to any understanding reached between that State or Territory
and the Contracting Governments; and
(b) the State Contracting Governments must together contribute
three-quarters of all investigations, construction and administration
costs:
(i) relating to the Commission's water business, in the relevant
proportions determined under sub-clause 66(2); and
(ii) relating to measures implemented under this Agreement, in equal
shares.
(5) The Ministerial Council, after considering any recommendation by the
Commission, must determine whether the costs of any special action taken under
sub-clause 48(5) are investigations, construction and administration costs or
operation and maintenance costs.".
Omit clause 67. Insert instead:
"Borrowings and Annuity
Contributions
67.
(1) The Commission may, with the prior approval of the Ministerial
Council, obtain financial accommodation with respect to any:
(a) investigations, construction and administration costs; and
(b) major or cyclic maintenance costs,
incurred, or which the Commission proposes to incur, for the purposes of
the Commission's water business.
(2) The Ministerial Council, on the recommendation of the Commission, may
from time to time determine that a Contracting Government must make an annual
annuity contribution in respect of either or both of:
(a) investigations, construction and administration costs; and
(b) major or cyclic maintenance costs,
which the Contracting Government might otherwise be required to contribute
under sub-clause 66(1), (3), paragraph 66(4)(a) or sub-paragraph 66(4)(b)(i), in
any future year.
(3) In fixing any annuity contribution under sub-clause 67(2), the
Ministerial Council must have regard to the Commission's estimate of costs which
will be incurred during the next ensuing 30 years (or such other period as the
Commission determines) in relation to either or both of:
(a) the construction or renewal; and
(b) major or cyclic maintenance,
of works constructed, operated, maintained or renewed for the purposes of
the Commission's water business (as the case requires) including any interest or
other sums receivable or payable in respect of any income received, or any
financial accommodation obtained, by the Commission from time to time in
relation to those works.
(4) For the purposes of this Part, the Commission must establish
guidelines for determining what is, and what is not, major or cyclic
maintenance.".
Omit clause 68. Insert instead:
"Annual and forward estimates
68.
(1) The Commission must prepare:
(a) detailed annual estimates of its known and anticipated expenditure for
the next financial year; and
(b) forward estimates of its known and anticipated expenditure for the two
successive financial years following the next financial year.
(2) Annual and forward estimates must:
(a) be in such form as may from time to time be agreed between the
Commission and the Ministerial Council; and
(b) show the estimated amount to be contributed by each Contracting
Government; and
(c) be sent to each Contracting Government before the end of March in each
year; and
(d) be approved by the Ministerial Council,
and may be revised from time to time with the approval of the Ministerial
Council.".
Omit clause 69. Insert instead:
"69. Each Contracting Government must pay any amount payable by it under
clause 66 or 67 as and when required by the Commission.".
(1) Omit sub-clause (1). Insert instead:
"(1) Subject to sub-clause 72(3), the Commission must apply money paid by
the Contracting Governments in accordance with the relevant estimates referred
to in paragraph 68(1)(a).".
(2) In sub-clause (2):
(a) omit "annual or supplementary" from paragraph (a). Insert after
"estimates", "prepared or revised under paragraph 68(1)(a)";
(b) omit "the annual or supplementary" from paragraph (b). Insert instead
"those";
(c) after "financial year;" in paragraph (b) insert "and".
(3) Omit sub-clause (3). Instead insert:
"(3) The Commission may accumulate:
(a) any sums received under sub-clause 66(3) or (4) for the purposes of
the Commission's water business, but not expended in any year; and
(b) any annuity contributions received under clause 67,
for use in subsequent years.".
(4) Omit sub-clause (4). Instead insert:
"(4) Any sum referred to in paragraph 72(3) and any interest thereon
must:
(a) in the case of sums received under sub-clause 66(3), only be expended
on operation and maintenance costs; and
(b) in the case of sums received under sub-clause 66(4), only be expended
on investigations, construction and administration costs; and
(c) in the case of annuity contributions received under clause
67:
(i) from a State Contracting Government, only be expended on
either:
(A) investigations, construction and administration costs; or
(B) major or cyclic maintenance costs,
of the Commission's water business, as the case requires; or
(ii) from the Commonwealth, only be expended on investigations,
construction and administration costs of the Commission's water
business.".
In sub-clause (1):
(a) omit "annual and supplementary"; and
(b) insert after "estimates", "referred to in paragraph
68(1)(a),".
(1) Omit sub-clause (1). Insert instead:
"(1) The unexpended balance of moneys paid to the Commission by
Contracting Governments for implementing measures in any financial
year:
(a) shall, with the approval of the Ministerial Council, be available for
expenditure in a subsequent financial year upon any item in the annual estimates
approved by the Ministerial Council for the relevant year; or
(b) may be used to reduce the amounts which would otherwise be payable by
each Contracting Government under clause 69 in that subsequent financial
year.".
(2) In sub-clause (2):
(a) omit "any". Insert instead "the".
(b) after "balances" insert "of moneys referred to in
sub-clause 75(1)".
(3) Omit sub-clause (3). Insert instead:
"(3) Any unexpended balance referred to in sub-clause 75(1) must only
be expended on implementing measures under this Agreement.".
Omit sub-clause (2). Insert instead:
"(2) The Commission must determine how proceeds from the disposal of
surplus assets are:
(a) to be paid to the Commission and credited against future capital and
renewal contributions by; or
(b) to be distributed among,
the Contracting Governments, having regard to the contributions made by
each Contracting Government to the acquisition of those assets.".
(1) Omit paragraphs (a) and (b) from sub-clause (1). Insert
instead:
"(a) must be audited annually by:
(i) an auditor appointed by the Ministerial Council; or
(ii) if no appointment is made under sub-paragraph 78(1)(a)(i), the
Commonwealth auditor; and
(b) may be audited at any reasonable time by an auditor appointed by a
Contracting Government.".
(2) Omit sub-clauses (2) and (3). Insert instead:
"(2) An auditor referred to in paragraph 78(1)(a) must promptly inform
each Contracting Government of any significant irregularity revealed by an
audit.".
(3) Omit sub-clause (4). Insert instead:
"(3) The Commission must, at all reasonable times, make all its relevant
accounts and records available to an auditor acting under sub-clause 78(1) or
any person acting on behalf of that auditor.".
(4) Renumber sub-clauses (5) and (6) as (4) and (5),
respectively.
(5)
(a) Renumber sub-clause (7) as sub-clause (6).
(b) Omit "sub-clause 78(1)" from sub-clause (6). Insert instead "paragraph
78(1)(a)".
Omit clause 80. Insert instead:
"80. The Commission may invest money received by it:
(a) in accordance with any guidelines established by the Ministerial
Council; or
(b) in such manner as may be directed by the Ministerial
Council,
but not otherwise.".
Omit sub-clause (3). Insert instead:
"(3) Money paid to the Commission under this clause must either:
(a) be expended on investigations, construction and administration costs;
or
(b) applied in accordance with sub-clause 75(1)."
Omit sub-clause (4). Insert instead:
"(4) Money paid to the Commission under this clause must either:
(a) be expended on investigations, construction and administration costs;
or
(b) applied in accordance with sub-clause 75(1).".
Omit "7(3)" from sub-clause (2). Insert instead "16(3)".
After Appendix 1 to Schedule C insert:
Description of works |
Location |
Nominated Government |
Status |
---|---|---|---|
Barr Creek Drainage Diversion Scheme Saline water diversion from
Barr Creek with disposal to the Tutchewop Lakes |
Northern Victoria approximately 20 km north of the township of
Kerang |
Victoria |
Former Salinity and Drainage Work |
Buronga Salt Interception Scheme (part) Groundwater pumping with
disposal to Mourquong basin |
Southwest New South Wales on the River Murray between Mildura Weir and
Mourquong |
New South Wales |
Former Salinity and Drainage Work |
Mallee Cliffs Salt Interception Scheme Groundwater pumping with
disposal to evaporation basin adjacent to Mallee Cliffs National Park |
Southwest New South Wales on the River Murray approximately 30 km east
of Mildura opposite Lambert Island in Victoria |
New South Wales |
Former Salinity and Drainage Work |
Mildura-Merbein Salt Interception Scheme (part) Groundwater pumping
with disposal to Wargan evaporation basins |
Northwest Victoria on the Southern side of the River Murray between Mildura
and Merbein |
Victoria |
Former Salinity and Drainage Work |
Rufus River Groundwater Interception Scheme Groundwater pumping with
disposal to evaporation basins on the western side of lake Victoria |
On both sides of Rufus River between the outlet from Lake Victoria and the
River Murray |
South Australia |
Former Salinity and Drainage Work |
Waikerie Salt Interception Scheme Groundwater pumping with disposal
to Stockyard Plain evaporation basin |
Southern side of the River Murray from Holder Bend (River distance 392 km)
to the Toolunka Reach (River distance 371 km) |
South Australia |
Former Salinity and Drainage Work |
Woolpunda Salt Interception Scheme Groundwater pumping with disposal
to Stockyard Plain evaporation basin |
Both sides of the River Murray from Overland Corner to Holder Bend in South
Australia |
South Australia |
Former Salinity and Drainage Work |
Pyramid Creek Salt Interception Scheme Groundwater pumping with
disposal to a salt harvesting pond complex |
Along Pyramid Creek for 12 km from Flannery's Bridge to the Box Creek
Regulator |
Victoria |
Basin Salinity Management Strategy Work |
To avoid doubt and to allow the Parties to comply with
sub-clause 134(6) of the Principal Agreement:
(1) After sub-clause 3(1) insert:
"(1A) Sub-clauses 38(1) and 38(3) of the Agreement only apply to the State
of Queensland in respect of an act, omission or loss incurred, in relation to
the bona fide execution of powers—
(a) in or related to the State of Queensland; or
(b) under a provision of the Agreement as it applies to the State of
Queensland.".
(2) After sub-clause 3(4) insert:
"(5) Nothing in the Agreement requires the State of
Queensland—
(a) to contribute to the costs of, or associated with, remedying any
actual or anticipated damage referred to in paragraph 51(1)(c) of the Agreement;
or
(b) to meet any compensation for damage paid under clause 83 of the
Agreement,
except where the State of Queensland has contributed to the construction,
maintenance or operation expenses of the works to which the costs or
compensation relate.".
EXECUTED as an agreement
SIGNED by The Honourable John Winston Howard MP Prime Minister for the
Commonwealth of Australia in the presence of— Ron Perry |
} |
John Howard |
SIGNED by The Honourable Morris Iemma MP Premier of New South Wales
in the presence of— Ron Perry |
} |
Morris Iemma |
SIGNED by The Honourable Steve Bracks MP Premier of Victoria in the
presence of— Ron Perry |
} |
Steve Bracks |
SIGNED by The Honourable Peter Beattie MP Premier of Queensland in
the presence of— Ron Perry |
} |
Peter Beattie |
SIGNED by The Honourable Mike Rann MP Premier of South Australia in
the presence of— Ron Perry |
} |
Mike Rann |
SIGNED by Jon Stanhope MLA Chief Minister of the Australian Capital
Territory in the presence of— Ron Perry |
} |
Jon Stanhope |