[no bill text published] NSW MPs Must Declare Family Finances, Water Licence Holders Must Declare Interest Type, and Fines for Brokers Who Break Code

Water Management Amendment (Water Access Licence Register) Bill 2023

Independent Bill

12 Oct 2023: This bill has lapsed and is no longer under discussion.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

anti-corruption broker conduct conflict of interest corporate reporting financial ethics government accountability government transparency irrigation rights political transparency public disclosure water access water management +7 more

Introduced by: Helen Dalton MP (IND)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Members of Parliament must now disclose the financial interests of their spouses and other family members.
Regulations can now create a code of conduct for brokers.
Criminal offences can be created for brokers who break the code of conduct.
Corporations with a unique identification number must give written notice within 28 days if their details change.
Members of Parliament must now disclose the financial interests of their spouses and other family members.
People filing returns under the Constitution Act must disclose the nature of their interest in every water access licence they hold.
The government can now set a code of conduct for brokers. Brokers can be fined if they fail to follow this code.
Corporations with a unique identification number (UIN) must give written notice within 28 days if their details change.

News articles and press releases

Water Management Amendment (Water Access Licence Register) Bill 2023

Mrs HELEN DALTON, Member for Murray — 2023-10-12

The bill will also stop people and companies from hiding their identity when they apply for a licence. This is crucial. Voters have a right to know this information. The bill will also mean that all current licence holders will have to provide more information about company directors, shareholders and related corporations. That will also help to end the secrecy, once and for all. Crucially, the bill will change the way the online water register works, so that ordinary people will finally be able to search the water holdings of people, companies, local councils and government departments. That is the level of transparency we all need and deserve. I also add that the bill will still protect the privacy of regular mum-and-dad farmers by ensuring the public register does not publish personal phone numbers, emails or residential addresses.