Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019B00018
Timestamp: 2019-12-07 07:31:11
Document Index: 271180564

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3']

Details: C2019B00018
- C2019B00018
A Bill for an Act to establish an inquiry into the management of the Murray-Darling Basin, and for related purposes
C2019B00018
Part 2—Establishing the Murray-Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry
Part 3—Powers of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry
Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry Bill 2019
A Bill for an Act to establish an inquiry into the management of the Murray‑Darling Basin, and for related purposes
Part 2—Establishing the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry 4
6............ Establishment of Commission............................................................. 4
Part 3—Powers of the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry 7
9............ Hearings.............................................................................................. 7
10.......... Commission not bound by the rules of evidence................................. 7
11.......... Application of the Royal Commissions Act 1902................................ 7
12.......... Application of Commonwealth laws................................................... 8
13.......... Remuneration and allowances of Commissioner................................. 9
14.......... End of Commissioner’s appointment.................................................. 9
15.......... Staff of the Commission..................................................................... 9
16.......... Legal and financial assistance............................................................ 10
17.......... Commission may communicate information..................................... 10
18.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 10
This Act is the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry Act 2019.
2. Sections 3 to 18
The day the Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated to fund the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry.
This Act establishes the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry.
Basin State has the same meaning as in the Water Act 2007.
Basin water resources has the same meaning as in the Water Act 2007.
Commission means the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry established under section 6.
Commissioner means the Commissioner of the Commission appointed under subsection 6(2).
environmental watering has the same meaning as in the Water Act 2007.
Judge means a Judge of a court created by the Parliament or of the Supreme Court of a State.
legal practitioner means a barrister, a solicitor, a barrister and solicitor, or a legal practitioner, of the High Court or of the Supreme Court of a State.
Murray‑Darling Basin has the same meaning as in the Water Act 2007.
public agency means:
(a) an agency of the Commonwealth (within the meaning of the Water Act 2007); or
(b) an agency of a State (within the meaning of that Act).
Note: An agency of the Commonwealth, or an agency of a State, includes individuals such as Ministers and persons holding offices established by or under a law of the Commonwealth or the State.
Part 2—Establishing the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry
(1) The Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry is established by this section.
(2) The Commission is constituted by a Commissioner appointed for this subsection by a resolution of the Senate.
(3) A person is not eligible for appointment as a Commissioner unless the person is or has been a Judge.
(e) the allocation of funds by the Commonwealth and the Basin States to implement the Basin Plan, and the impact of funded projects (including water buybacks and efficiency measures) in facilitating environmental watering in the Murray‑Darling Basin;
(1) The Commission must prepare a report setting out its findings and recommendations.
(2) The report must be submitted to the President and the Speaker before the end of a period of 1 year starting on this section’s commencement. The period may be extended by a resolution of the Senate.
(3) The Commissioner may exclude from the report any information that the Commissioner is satisfied would have one or more of the following effects if laid before either House of the Parliament:
(a) a person who has been or may be charged with an offence might not receive a fair trial for the offence;
(b) the conduct of an investigation of a breach or possible breach of the law might be prejudiced;
(c) the existence or identity of a confidential source of information in relation to the enforcement or administration of the law might be disclosed or a person enabled to ascertain the existence or identity of that source;
(d) there might be prejudice to the safety or reputation of a person.
(4) As soon as practicable after receiving the report, the President and the Speaker must cause copies of the report to be laid before the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(5) The Minister must table the Government’s response to the report within 6 months after copies of the report are laid before the Senate.
Part 3—Powers of the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry
13 Remuneration and allowances of Commissioner
(1) The Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, the Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed in the regulations.
(2) The Commissioner is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed in the regulations.
(4) However, the Commissioner is not entitled to remuneration and allowances under this section if:
(a) the Commissioner is a Judge; and
(b) the Commissioner is still receiving remuneration and annual allowances as a Judge.
14 End of Commissioner’s appointment
The Commissioner’s appointment ends if:
(a) the Commissioner submits a report in accordance with section 8 to the Speaker and the President; or
(b) the Senate passes a resolution to end the Commissioner’s appointment.
16 Legal and financial assistance
17 Commission may communicate information
(1) The Commissioner may disclose information obtained by the Commission in the course of its inquiry to the following if the information relates, or may relate, to a failure to comply with any law (including the Basin Plan) relevant to the management of the Basin water resources:
(a) the Murry‑Darling Basin Authority;
(b) any public agency with responsibilities relating to water management.
(2) This authority given under this section is in addition to the authority given to the Commission to disclose information under section 6P of the Royal Commissions Act 1902.