On behalf of the Government, I address the Water Management Amendment (Register of State and Commonwealth Water Access Licences) Bill 2025, introduced by the member for Murray. I thank the good member for her ongoing interest in water management, which is such an important matter in her electorate and across the State. While we appreciate the member's genuine interest and the reasons behind this bill, the Government will not be supporting it. I am proud of the progress we have made in water management in New South Wales, which has been driven by effort, evidence, integrity and adaptability.

Since the introduction of the Water Management Act 2000, this Government has led the nation on water reform. Our commitment to transparency is not just an ideal; it is embedded in how we govern. So, when legislation like the Water Management Amendment (Register of State and Commonwealth Water Access Licences) Bill 2025 comes before us, we will always take it seriously. This bill proposes a public register of government-held water access licences and related information. While the intent is constructive, the reality is that the outcomes this bill seeks are already being delivered more efficiently through existing systems. Since 2006 the held environmental water licences register has disclosed detailed attributes of government-held environmental water licences, including holder details, share components, associated programs and management entities. Its companion, the environmental water trades register, further supports transparency by publishing details of temporary water trades, including volumes, licence numbers and the purpose for which water was traded.

While the vast majority of government-owned water is for the environment and included in the existing online register, there are a much smaller volume of government licences not held for environmental purposes, those managed for things like infrastructure projects, fisheries, schools, research and other smaller portfolios. Details on these licences are already contained in the Water Access Licence Register. These holdings represent a small fraction of government-owned water by volume and attract far less public interest. Adding a separate layer of rigid, statutory reporting for such licences is neither proportionate nor beneficial. Furthermore, the bill would introduce a requirement to track government-funded programs associated with each licence, which is a task that would demand intensive coordination across State and Commonwealth agencies and pose significant administrative challenges, if it is possible at all. This is inefficient, at a considerable cost with minimal return. Most importantly, our existing registers and reporting systems are flexible. They are responsive to feedback. A recent enhancement added trade purpose to the trades register within weeks of it being raised, demonstrating that improvements can and do happen without legislation.

This Government is always happy to work with members on improving transparency, and I am sure that, if the member had asked the Minister about making this information available, the Minister would have been able to provide assistance, without the need to divert time and effort instead into our consideration of this bill. With all due respect to the member for Murray, the Government's position is that this bill is unnecessary. It duplicates what is already publicly available. It risks undermining high-performing systems and introduces inflexibility where agility is needed. The current platforms are transparent, reliable and evolving, all without costly and inflexible legislation. Let us not spend public money on redundancy. Let us continue to refine and improve our existing water information systems, grounded in stakeholder needs and good governance. While I applaud the member's continual drive for transparency and her hard advocacy, I urge the House to oppose the bill.