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The Auditor-General responded to, and then followed-up, correspondence from the Hon. Tony Burke MP dated 25 July 2017, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation into allegations arising out of a recent Four Corners program concerning the Murray-Darling Basin.
28 November 2017
The Hon Tony Burke MP
Shadow Minister for Environment and Water
By email: tony.burke.MP@aph.gov.au
Dear Mr Burke
Following your correspondence of 28 July 2017, in which you raised concerns about allegations concerning the Murray-Darling Basin, I am writing to inform you that my office has conducted an Assurance Review (review) under section 19A(1) of the Auditor-General Act 1997. The review focused on the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources’ assessment of the performance of New South Wales under the National Partnership Agreement on Implementing Water Reform in the Murray-Darling Basin relevant to the protection and use of environmental water for the 2014–15 and 2015–16 financial years.
The review report has been presented to Parliament today and can be accessed on the Australian National Audit Office website.
If you or your office would like a briefing on the review please contact our External Relations area at external.relations@anao.gov.au.
Yours sincerely
Grant Hehir
Auditor-General for Australia
28 July 2017
The Hon Tony Burke MP
Shadow Minister for Environment and Water
By email: tony.burke.MP@aph.gov.au
Dear Mr Burke
Thank you for your letter of 25 July 2017 requesting that I investigate allegations raised within the ABC Four Corners program first broadcast on 24 July 2017 and other relevant matters, including but not limited to the protection and use of Commonwealth resources held by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is currently undertaking an audit of the effectiveness of monitoring and payment arrangements under National Partnership Agreements, with a report due to table in the Autumn 2018 session. This audit already includes Agreements related to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
I have decided to expand the scope of this current audit to include how the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is monitoring the performance of New South Wales (NSW) under the National Partnership Agreement on Implementing Water Reform in the Murray-Darling Basin relevant to the protection and use of environmental water.
I will consider tabling a separate report relating to the NSW issue later this year.
Yours sincerely
Grant Hehir
Auditor-General
Mr Grant Hehir
Auditor-General
Australian National Audit Office
19 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
By email only: grant.hehir@anao.gov.au
Dear Auditor-General
ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING THE MURRAY-DARLING BASIN
I refer to the Four Corners program which was broadcast on the ABC last night.
That program raised a number of serious allegations concerning the Murray-Darling Basin, including that changes to river rules by the New South Wales Government have led to environmental water purchased by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder being pumped into private irrigation channels and dams.
If true, this would mean that environmental water paid for by every Australian to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin is instead being used for private profit and contrary to the purposes for the original Commonwealth purchase.
These allegations question the ongoing integrity of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and warrant further inquiry.
Accordingly, I ask you to investigate these allegations and any other matter you consider relevant arising out of the Four Corners program, including but not limited to the protection and use of Commonwealth resources held by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this matter.
Yours sincerely
Tony Burke
25 July 2017