❓ A parliamentary question addresses the progress of water resource management law reform in WA, its alignment with climate change projections, and its urgency in relation to growing demand and irrigation projects. The answer provides limited specifics on timelines.
AnsweredQoN 742Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WATER
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
742. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Water:
(1) Please
provide an update on progress regarding proposed law reform for water resources
management in Western Australia.
(2) When does the minister expect to introduce a bill for
water resources law in Parliament?
(3) To what
extent are current water allocations based on the latest projections for a
drying climate in south-western Western Australia?
(4) Given
growing water demand and predictions of a continuing drying trend due to
climate change, would the minister agree that updating laws that govern the
management of water resources in WA has now become urgent?
(5) Will new
water resources laws be put in place before new large-scale irrigation
precincts are established under the state government's Water for Food
program?
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
742. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Water:
(1) Please
provide an update on progress regarding proposed law reform for water resources
management in Western Australia.
(2) When does the minister expect to introduce a bill for
water resources law in Parliament?
(3) To what
extent are current water allocations based on the latest projections for a
drying climate in south-western Western Australia?
(4) Given
growing water demand and predictions of a continuing drying trend due to
climate change, would the minister agree that updating laws that govern the
management of water resources in WA has now become urgent?
(5) Will new
water resources laws be put in place before new large-scale irrigation
precincts are established under the state government's Water for Food
program?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. On behalf of the Minister for Water, I answer —
(1) I am
currently considering the responses from public submissions arising from the
position paper that was released in late 2013.
(2) Timing has not yet been determined.
(3) Water
allocation limits are set on our current level of understanding of the social,
economic and environmental requirements incorporating the latest climate
science projections.
(4) The
Liberal–National government is taking a considered approach to water
reform with significant input from stakeholders. We are committed to ensuring
an effective framework for the management of the state's water
resources in a drying climate, which includes introduction of properly
considered policy and legislative reform.
(5) The timing of any new legislation is yet to be
determined.
question. On behalf of the Minister for Water, I answer —
(1) I am
currently considering the responses from public submissions arising from the
position paper that was released in late 2013.
(2) Timing has not yet been determined.
(3) Water
allocation limits are set on our current level of understanding of the social,
economic and environmental requirements incorporating the latest climate
science projections.
(4) The
Liberal–National government is taking a considered approach to water
reform with significant input from stakeholders. We are committed to ensuring
an effective framework for the management of the state's water
resources in a drying climate, which includes introduction of properly
considered policy and legislative reform.
(5) The timing of any new legislation is yet to be
determined.
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