Statement from Natural Resources Minister re: EAA purchases

The Queensland Government expressed its support of a potential purchase of EAA properties in 2015, acknowledging that it represented a significant opportunity to make substantial progress towards achieving water recovery targets.

Discussion on this approach was discontinued by the Commonwealth in late 2015 and the Commonwealth moved to a position of seeking to purchase part of the entitlements from EAA directly.

In August 2017, the Commonwealth Government finalised a purchase of the overland flow water rights of Clyde and Kia Ora.

The Queensland Government, as the manager of the water titles system, has an administrative role in the sales process, to enable the water rights purchased to be transferred to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.

Issues relating to alleged connections between Angus Taylor and family companies to EAA, the price paid for water and the alleged failure to conduct a public tender are matters for the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth has the clear lead for water recovery under the Basin Plan and is therefore responsible for appropriate due diligence and governance of purchase matters.

The Queensland Government was supportive of the purchase because it helped achieve the Basin Plan water recovery targets.

Media enquiries: David Potter 0428 411 617