“Open your books”: NSW Labor backs South Australia Royal Commission into water theft

So says state Opposition, which this morning backed its South Australian Labor counterparts and their state-based Royal Commission into Murray Darling Basin compliance and management. 

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SA Premier Jay Weatherill is adamant the probe would compel bureaucrats from NSW to come forward with evidence, while NSW Opposition water spokesman Chris Minns called on Premier Gladys Berejiklian to “open the books” and prove without a doubt that nothing was amiss. 

Irrigators say they’ve got nothing to hide, and SA Liberal Senator Ann Ruston has even pledged Commonwealth cooperation – though she also called South Australia’s inquiry a political stunt.  

On Saturday NSW Regional Water Minister Niall Blair said “it was a matter for South Australia” and wouldn’t say whether he or his bureaucrats would testify if called before the SA Royal Commission. 

Today, he said government had already referred certain matters to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, while the NSW Ombudsman was continuing its own investigation.

“Both of these agencies have similar powers to a Royal Commission,” Mr Blair said. 

“A Royal Commission would take years and be a very costly exercise for the South Australian taxpayer.

“In addition, the South Australian Government is yet to provide the Terms of Reference of the proposed commission - no State Government could consider cooperation with South Australia’s commission without these.”

Mr Blair also welcomed the The Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s damning basin-wide compliance review – one of seven inquiries initiated after July’s Four Corners expose on alleged water theft and corruption in NSW. 

“Over the coming days we will review the details of today’s report but we note that the findings are in line with Mr Matthews interim report that was released in September.”

Mr Matthews’ final report will be released this week. 

Accusations of water theft and complicity of state government has already led to the resignation of the most senior water bureaucrat in the state, Gavin Hanlon. 

ICAC has also launched preliminary inquiries into the actions of the NSW Government.

Last week state parliament passed the Natural Resources Access Regulator Bill 2017, establishing an independent Natural Resources Access Regulator for water compliance and enforcement.

But Mr Minns said Western NSW communities would continue to suffer unless the Premier agreed to a full judicial review or Royal Commission. 

“The South Australian government is showing more concern for western NSW communities than the NSW National Party members who are supposed to represent them,” Mr Minns said.

“(They) are treating their own electorates with contempt, make no mistake they don’t want a full inquiry into their behaviour because they are petrified of what will be found.”