NIC chief executive officer Steve Whan said the select committee had a long and complicated name as befits a very complicated policy area.
“Unfortunately, complication in managing rivers and catchments is inevitable because rivers and catchments all have different characteristics — and because, for better or worse, we have a federated structure of government,” Mr Whan said.
“While we appreciate committee members’ efforts to help implementation of the basin plan, it is important to note that there are already thorough, independent, recent reports with recommendations still to be implemented.
“There are many issues that need to be fixed with the basin plan and we need action, not grandstanding, to do it.
“On that basis, NIC has urged the committee to make its key outcome a strong push for implementation of the Productivity Commission’s five-year review recommendations.
“Our submission urges the committee to acknowledge the vital role irrigated agriculture plays in the Murray-Darling Basin supplying food and fibre for Australia and in generating jobs and economic activity for basin communities,” Mr Whan said.
“In addition, the committee needs to recognise that the basin plan promised a triple bottom line outcome: healthy rivers, healthy communities and a continued capacity to produce food and fibre.”
NIC has suggested to the committee that:
¦ There are sound geographic and resource management reasons for many differences in what might on the surface seem to be similar things, for example, water entitlement types.
¦ The committee acknowledge that government priority must be on ensuring the commitment to and flexibility to enable the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) process to deliver equivalent benefit of 605 Gl, thus ensuring no further water recovery is required; and that the no negative impact on communities guarantee is met.
¦ The committee should consider recommendations that facilitate a greater practical focus on delivery on the SDLAM suite of projects and ensure that government is focused on cooperative and adaptive approaches.
¦ The last three years has seen a massive increase in resources for compliance and huge change in requirements and standards; it is critical that these reforms are allowed to be completed and assessed before any further change is considered.
¦ The committee should allow the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, with its significant expertise, powers and resourcing, to consider issues around the operation of water markets.
¦ NIC supports improved monitoring of rivers and more research leading to better and more comprehensive information; NIC would also support a reintroduction of a sustainable rivers audit type approach.
