THE NSW Government this week introduced legislation it says will strengthen disclosure requirements for water ownership and trades for all NSW Members of Parliament.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the Constitution Amendment (Water Accountability and Transparency) Bill 2020 would provide more certainty to members and improve public confidence in the pecuniary interests register.
But Member for Murray Helen Dalton said the Bill was a “copycat” but “watered-down” version of one she had introduced to parliament last year.
Mrs Dalton said she tried to reintroduce her Bill on Tuesday, however the government denied her entry to parliament due to COVID-19 restrictions.
She said it was clear she had forced the government’s hand on the issue and on the same day Ms Pavey introduced the Bill.
“Last year I introduced a Bill to force politicians to declare their water, as well as create a register of all individuals and corporations who own water,” she said.
“The NSW Government delayed it until it expired.
“Perhaps their delays gave MPs the chance to sell their water, so they’re now ready for some transparency.”
Mrs Dalton said she couldn’t find a copy of Ms Pavey’s Bill online.
“The NSW Government is being secretive as usual,” she said.
“Does the Bill cover retrospective water ownership? Does it cover the spouses of politicians?
“I’m betting it probably doesn’t.”
Ms Dalton said it seemed Ms Pavey’s Bill “does nothing” about foreign or domestic companies owning water.
“We need a register for them too — they donate to political parties.
“If they own water, the public have a right to know.
“Why are the Nationals still protecting them?”
Ms Pavey said the proposed legislation would require all MPs to record water ownership and share components as an asset in the same way they must declare business or real estate interests, including a delivery right within an irrigation corporation.
She said it would also require any water trades to be declared within 14 days, rather than the current six months, along with any money earned and the net impact on remaining water holdings.
“The inclusion of water trades and tightening timeframes on reporting them is a significant change,” Ms Pavey said.
“Water asset ownership and how they are traded is something we are taking very seriously to improve confidence among our communities and is also another step in improving transparency within the sector.
“The NSW Government is committed to completing its water reform agenda, including strengthening public registers for water ownership and trading.
“Any further changes to registers involving private citizens must be done in a way that promotes transparency while protecting the privacy of our farmers.”
