Water Act 2007

The Inspector‑General may, in writing, issue guidelines relating to the performance by agencies of the Commonwealth and agencies of the Basin States of their obligations (water management obligations) in relation to the management of Basin water resources under the following:

this Act (other than Parts 1A, 2A, 4, 4A, 10A and 11A);

regulations and other legislative instruments made under this Act (other than regulations or other legislative instruments made for the purposes of Part 1A, 2A, 4, 4A, 10A or 11A);

the Basin Plan;

water resource plans.

Without limiting subsection (1), guidelines issued under that subsection may relate to any of the following:

reporting compliance activities carried out by agencies of the Basin States relating to their water management obligations;

assessing the effectiveness of the regulatory frameworks in the Basin States for managing their water management obligations;

any other matter prescribed by the regulations.

Guidelines issued under subsection (1) are not a legislative instrument.

The Inspector‑General must publish guidelines issued under subsection (1) on the Inspector‑General’s website or the Department’s website.

In performing its water management obligations, an agency of the Commonwealth or an agency of a Basin State must have regard to guidelines (if any) issued under subsection (1).