(1) This section applies if:
(a) a change to the Basin Plan would, if action were not to be taken under this Subdivision, result in a change in the reliability of water allocations in relation to the water resources of a water resource plan area; and
(b) this would occur otherwise than because of a reduction in the long - term average sustainable diversion limit for those water resources (or for a part of those water resources).
(2) The Basin Plan must:
(a) specify that this Subdivision applies to that change to the Basin Plan; and
(b) specify the nature of the change in the reliability of those water allocations.
(3) The Basin Plan may specify the following:
(a) the extent (if any) to which the change in reliability is attributable to changes in Commonwealth Government policy (the Commonwealth Government policy component of the change in reliability);
(b) the extent (if any) to which the change in reliability is attributable to improvements in knowledge about the environmentally sustainable level of take for the water resources of the water resource plan area (the new knowledge component of the change in reliability);
(c) the extent (if any) of the Commonwealth's share of the change in reliability.
(3A) In working out the amount of the Commonwealth Government policy component or the new knowledge component, any reduction that is a result of matters referred to in clause 48 of the National Water Initiative is to be disregarded.
Note: Clause 48 of the National Water Initiative is set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3A.
(4) The Commonwealth's share of the change in reliability is to be worked out for the purposes of paragraph (3)(c) in accordance with:
(a) the provisions of the National Water Initiative; and
(b) any regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.
Regulations made for the purposes of paragraph (b) must not be inconsistent with the National Water Initiative.