Hon Dee Margetts questions the Minister for Water Resources on the lack of detail in the public register of water licenses, specifically regarding environmental monitoring, irrigation details and water usage types. The Minister defends the current register and states there are no plans to expand it.

AnsweredQoN 246Legislative Council
Asked
21 June 2001
Portfolio
Water Resources

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the answer to my question without notice of 19 June, of which some notice had been given, relating to water licence information. (1) Given the Government’s stated policy of open and accountable government, what justification can the minister give for the following water licence conditions not being included in the public register of licence information: environmental monitoring, details of area under irrigation by crop type and details on how the water is used such as irrigation, dewatering, mining, or industrial? (2) When will this information be provided on the public register? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The register does not include those details because they are not suited to inclusion on it.  The details are often lengthy, complex and subject to change. (2) For those reasons, there are no plans to expand the public register.  However, I am informed that the commission’s policy is to provide details of water use and licence conditions on request, subject to compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the confidentiality provisions of the Water and Rivers Commission Act.
(1) Given the Government’s stated policy of open and accountable government, what justification can the minister give for the following water licence conditions not being included in the public register of licence information: environmental monitoring, details of area under irrigation by crop type and details on how the water is used such as irrigation, dewatering, mining, or industrial? (2) When will this information be provided on the public register? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The register does not include those details because they are not suited to inclusion on it.  The details are often lengthy, complex and subject to change. (2) For those reasons, there are no plans to expand the public register.  However, I am informed that the commission’s policy is to provide details of water use and licence conditions on request, subject to compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the confidentiality provisions of the Water and Rivers Commission Act.
(2) When will this information be provided on the public register? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The register does not include those details because they are not suited to inclusion on it.  The details are often lengthy, complex and subject to change. (2) For those reasons, there are no plans to expand the public register.  However, I am informed that the commission’s policy is to provide details of water use and licence conditions on request, subject to compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the confidentiality provisions of the Water and Rivers Commission Act.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The register does not include those details because they are not suited to inclusion on it.  The details are often lengthy, complex and subject to change. (2) For those reasons, there are no plans to expand the public register.  However, I am informed that the commission’s policy is to provide details of water use and licence conditions on request, subject to compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the confidentiality provisions of the Water and Rivers Commission Act.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The register does not include those details because they are not suited to inclusion on it.  The details are often lengthy, complex and subject to change. (2) For those reasons, there are no plans to expand the public register.  However, I am informed that the commission’s policy is to provide details of water use and licence conditions on request, subject to compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the confidentiality provisions of the Water and Rivers Commission Act.
(1) The register does not include those details because they are not suited to inclusion on it.  The details are often lengthy, complex and subject to change. (2) For those reasons, there are no plans to expand the public register.  However, I am informed that the commission’s policy is to provide details of water use and licence conditions on request, subject to compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the confidentiality provisions of the Water and Rivers Commission Act.
(2) For those reasons, there are no plans to expand the public register.  However, I am informed that the commission’s policy is to provide details of water use and licence conditions on request, subject to compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the confidentiality provisions of the Water and Rivers Commission Act.

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