The inquiry will specifically look at the impacts of Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act (Cth) 2023 on regional NSW communities.
Raised on Monday, the inquiry is being led by the NSW Government’s Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development.
Its chair is independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler.
Mr Barwon has wasted no time in launching the inquiry, and is already reaching out to basin communities for feedback that would inform the inquiry.
“We want to understand how the new federal water legislation affects local communities, businesses, and environments, especially those who depend on water the most,” he said.
“Changes to water use, such as buybacks and rules-based changes, affect regional communities that rely on water allocation for business, tourism, town water supplies and the environment.
“It's important to understand how changes will impact regional communities and identify any risks posed by the legislation.
“The sustainability of communities who rely on the Murray-Darling Basin is vital to New South Wales.
“That's why we are asking local communities to tell us what worked and what didn't in the past.
“Community feedback will help us design better policies such as next rounds of the Sustainable Communities Program while considering water policy.”
The Committee will look into major changes from recent federal legislation, such as:
• the impact of reintroducing buybacks;
• risks to achieving legislative outcomes, such as reducing unlicensed take of water;
• the impact of environmental water rules on water allocations and rules-based changes in NSW; and,
• options to improve government programs aimed at offsetting the impacts of buybacks.
The committee is inviting submissions from industry, businesses, academics, community organisations, government agencies and the public.
Other members of the committee include vice chair Stephen Bali and his fellow Labor Party members Charishma Kaliyanda, Warren Kirby, and Maryanne Stuart.
Committee members from the Coalition are Liberal Justin Clancy and Richie Williamson from The Nationals.
More information, including the inquiry's full terms of reference and how to make a submission, is available at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/listofcommittees/Pages/committee-details.aspx?pk=172.
Submissions close on April 14.
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