Assessment for Queensland Summary of findings Findings for Queensland are summarised below in the order they appear in the agreement. Full findings and details of the assessment follow in subsequent sections of this chapter. 4.1: Summary of findings for Queensland National Partnership commitments Assessment summary Finding 6) The state has supported the Commonwealth in bridging the gap. Queensland has made progress in removing volumetric or other barriers to permanent trade out of water irrigation areas that are inconsistent with the Basin Plan water trading rules. Queensland did not introduce any restrictions on the trading of water access entitlements. Queensland did not take any action to impede Commonwealth measures to acquire for environmental purposes. Applications for water entitlement and allocation trades were processed consistent with the agreed service standards for trade processing times. Queensland entitlements in supplemented (regulated) surface water systems are consistent with the provisions of NWI clauses 28–32. Commitment partially met. and activities are underway to fully meet the milestone. 7) Following publication of the Constraints Management Strategy by the MDBA, confirmation that any actions taken by the state to remove or address constraints are consistent with the measures agreed through the governance procedure for the SDL adjustment mechanism. Not applicable to Queensland. Not applicable.
8) The state has cooperated in arrangements for Basin Plan environmental watering. South Australia did not enhance or diminish licence entitlements held for environmental use relative to like entitlements held and used for other purposes during 2014–15. South Australia provided its annual environmental watering priorities for 2015–16, consistent with the Basin Plan, to the MDBA in May 2015. Australia consistently applied the Basin Plan’s Principles to be applied in environmental watering during 2014–15. Environmental watering in regulated catchments has occurred with regard to the views of local communities and persons materially affected by the management of environmental water. Commitment met. 9) For New Wales, Victoria and South Australia only, the state has provided a brief description of supply measure projects for which feasibility and business cases are being developed for consideration under the SDL adjustment mechanism. South Australia has provided the Commonwealth with a description of supply measure projects for which business cases are being developed for consideration under the SDL adjustment mechanism. Commitment met. Bridging the gap Removal of barriers The Basin Plan Water Trading Rules came into effect on 1 July 2014. In June 2015 the MDBA provided its preliminary views on issues it considered to be high priority for the consistency of South Australia’s arrangements with the Basin Plan Trading Rules. In particular, the restriction on trade in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges was highlighted. The MDBA is now satified that this matter has been resolved with the issueing of tradeable licences in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges. In considering the ongoing obligations associated with Milestone 6, the Department anticipates that discussions between South Australia and the MDBA will continue. If any further areas of inconsistency with the Trading Rules are identified, South Australia will need to work cooperatively with the MDBA during 2015-16 to develop a work program and agree timeframes to address any inconsistencies.