Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) The Minister must cause 3 independent reviews to be conducted into whether the amount standing to the credit of, and to be credited to, the Water for the Environment Special Account is sufficient to increase, by 31 December 2027, the volume of the Basin water resources that is available for environmental use by 450 gigalitres, and to ease or remove constraints identified by the Authority on the capacity to deliver environmental water to the environmental assets of the Murray - Darling Basin.
(2) A review must be conducted by a panel of at least 3 persons nominated by the Minister, after consulting each Basin State.
(3) In conducting a review under subsection (1), a panel must also consider the following:
(a) the progress that has been, and is anticipated to be, made towards increasing the volume of the Basin water resources that is available for environmental use;
(b) whether the design of projects in relation to which payments have been made under section 86AD is likely to be effective in increasing the volume of the Basin water resources that is available for environmental use by 450 gigalitres;
(c) any other matter specified in writing by the Minister that is relevant to achieving the object of this Part.
(3A) In conducting a review under subsection (1), a panel must also consider the effectiveness of the following:
(a) payments made, or expected to be made, under paragraph 86AD(2)(c) in relation to a purchase referred to in paragraph 86AD(2)(b);
(b) payments made, or expected to be made, from other sources in relation to a purchase referred to in paragraph 86AD(2)(b).
(4) A panel must give the Minister a written report of a review.
(5) The report of the first review must be provided to the Minister by 30 September 2019.
(6) The report of the second review must be provided to the Minister by 30 September 2021.
(6A) The report of the third review must be provided to the Minister by 30 September 2025.
(7) The Minister must cause a copy of a report of a review to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the day the report is given to the Minister.
(8) The Minister must table the Government's response to the report by the following time:
(a) for the first review--the time the Treasurer presents the budget to the Parliament for the 2020 - 2021 financial year;
(b) for the second review--the time the Treasurer presents the budget to the Parliament for the 2022 - 2023 financial year;
(c) for the third review--the time the Treasurer presents the budget to the Parliament for the 2026 - 2027 financial year.