{"id":"lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009","name":"Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009","slug":"lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30161,"registerId":"nt-lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nLAKE EYRE BASIN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ACT 2009\nAs in force at 9 September 2009\nTable of provisions\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n4 Approval and ratification of agreement ............................................ 1\n5 Facilitation of agreement ................................................................. 2\nSchedule Agreement\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 9 September 2009\n____________________\nLAKE EYRE BASIN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ACT 2009\nAn Act to approve, ratify and facilitate the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental\nAgreement\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental\nAgreement Act 2009.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act commences on the date fixed by the Administrator by\nGazette notice.\n3 Definitions\nIn this Act:\nagreement means the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental\nAgreement as set out in the Schedule, comprising the original\nagreement, first amending deed and second amending deed.\nfirst amending deed means the deed dated 10 June 2004\nbetween the Commonwealth, the State of Queensland, the State of\nSouth Australia and the Territory, which forms schedule 2 to the\nagreement.\noriginal agreement means the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental\nAgreement dated 21 October 2000 between the Commonwealth,\nthe State of Queensland and the State of South Australia.\nsecond amending deed means the deed dated 23 January 2007\nbetween the Commonwealth, the State of Queensland, the State of\nSouth Australia and the Territory, which forms schedule 3 to the\nagreement.\n4 Approval and ratification of agreement\nThe agreement is approved and ratified.\n\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 2\n5 Facilitation of agreement\nThe Minister and Agencies and instrumentalities of the Territory are\nauthorised and required to do anything reasonably necessary to\nensure the performance and observance of the agreement.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 3\nSchedule Agreement\nsection 3\nLAKE EYRE BASIN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT\nAN AGREEMENT MADE THE 21ST DAY OF OCTOBER 2000\nBETWEEN:\nTHE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA\nAND\nTHE STATE OF QUEENSLAND\nAND\nTHE STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA\nRECITALS:\nA. The Lake Eyre Basin has within its boundaries areas of national and\ninternational ecological and environmental significance, areas of high\neconomic worth from activities such as pastoralism, tourism, oil and gas\nextraction and mining, and areas of social, cultural and heritage value, the\nsustainability of much of which depends upon the continued health of the\nThomson/Barcoo/Cooper, Georgina and Diamantina river systems within\nQueensland and South Australia (as defined in the Australian National Map\nDrainage Divisions and Basins and including their catchments, flood plains,\nlakes, wetlands and overflow channels).\nB. Management of the Lake Eyre Basin which will best serve the object of\nsustainability requires a joint cooperative approach between the States of\nQueensland and South Australia and the Commonwealth.\nC. The Parties to this Agreement entered into a Heads of Agreement dated\n26 May 1997 whereby it was agreed that the above approach should be\nembodied in a formal interstate Agreement ratified by the Parliaments of each\nState.\nD. This Agreement is entered into by the Parties in accordance with the Lake\nEyre Basin Heads of Agreement, and is to provide for the establishment of\narrangements for the management of water and related natural resources for\nthat portion of the Lake Eyre Basin identified as the Lake Eyre Basin\nAgreement Area in Clause 1.1, including the development or adoption, and\nimplementation of agreed Policies and Strategies for the avoidance of\nadverse cross-border impacts and the creation of a relevant institutional\nstructure.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 4\nE. This Agreement is also entered into in recognition of the provisions of the\nIntergovernmental Agreement on the Environment dated 1 May 1992\nbetween the Commonwealth, all States and Territories, and the Australian\nLocal Government Association, that States use their best endeavours to\nestablish appropriate mechanisms for ensuring cooperative management\nwhere significant adverse external effects on another State are expected and\nidentified, and that the role of government is to establish the policy, legislative\nand administrative framework to determine the permissibility of land use,\nresource use or development proposals having regard to the appropriate,\nefficient and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources, and to provide\nfor the consideration of regional implications where proposals for the use of a\nresource affect several jurisdictions.\nF. The provisions of this Agreement are consistent with the Council of Australian\nGovernments' National Water Reform Framework and the Natural Heritage\nTrust Partnership Agreements.\nTHE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:\nPart I – Application and Interpretation\nApplication\n1.1 This Agreement applies to that area of the Lake Eyre Basin (the Agreement\nArea) encompassing portions of Queensland and South Australia, as depicted\nin Schedule 1 of this Agreement, including within that area the following river\nsystems and associated catchments, floodplains, overflow channels, lakes,\nwetlands and sub-artesian waters dependent on surface flows:\n(a) the Cooper Creek system including the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers,\nand associated tributaries; and\n(b) the Diamantina River system, including the Georgina River, and\nincluding Warburton Creek in South Australia, and associated\ntributaries.\nDefinitions\n1.2 In this Agreement save where inconsistent with the context:\nEcosystem means a community of organisms, interacting with one\nanother, and the natural resources comprising the environment in\nwhich those organisms live and with which they also interact.\nLake Eyre Basin Agreement Area means the area referred to in\nclause 1.1 to which the Agreement applies.\nManagement Plan means a plan or other document of a State that\nhas been adopted by the Ministerial Forum.\nMinisterial Forum means the group of Ministers of the Crown in\nright of the Commonwealth and the State parties constituted under\nPart V.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 5\nNatural resources means water, soil, the atmosphere, plants,\nanimals and micro-organisms that maintain and form components\nof ecosystems.\nPrinciples means the guiding principles referred to in Part III.\nPolicy means a document setting out a course or line of action\ndeveloped or adopted and pursued by the Ministerial Forum for the\npurpose of implementing this Agreement.\nRelated natural resources means natural resources the use or\nmanagement of which affects or might affect, or is or might be\naffected by the quantity or quality of water in the water systems\ndescribed in clause 1.1 of this Agreement, or the ecosystems of\nwhich such water is a component part.\nStrategy means a document setting out a course or line of action\ndeveloped or adopted and pursued by the Ministerial Forum for the\npurpose of implementing a Policy.\nInterpretation\n1.3 In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:\n(a) a reference to any law or legislation or legislative provision includes\nany statutory modification or re-enactment of, or legislative provision\nsubstituted for, and any subordinate legislation issued under, that\nlegislation or legislative provision;\n(b) a reference to a Recital, Clause or Schedule is to a recital, clause or\nschedule in this Agreement;\n(c) a reference to a person includes a corporation, partnership, joint\nventure, association, authority, trust, state or government;\n(d) the singular includes the plural and vice versa\n(e) a reference to any gender includes the other gender;\n(f) a reference to any agreement or document is to that agreement or\ndocument (and, where applicable, any of its provisions) as amended,\nnovated, supplemented or replaced from time to time; and\n(g) a reference to \"amendment\" includes addition, alteration, deletion,\nextension, modification and variation.\n1.4 In this Agreement, headings are for convenience of reference only and do not\naffect interpretation.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 6\n1.5 In the interpretation of a provision of this Agreement, a construction that\nwould promote the purpose or object underlying the Agreement (whether or\nnot that purpose or object is expressly stated in the Agreement) will be\npreferred to a construction that would not promote that purpose or object.\n1.6 Questions of interpretation of this Agreement are to be raised in the\nMinisterial Forum.\nPart II – Purpose and Objectives\nPurpose\n2.1 The purpose of this Agreement is to provide for the development or adoption,\nand implementation of Policies and Strategies concerning water and related\nnatural resources in the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area to avoid or\neliminate so far as reasonably practicable adverse cross-border impacts.\nObjectives\n2.2 The objectives of this Agreement are:\n(a) to provide a means for the Parties to come together in good faith to\nachieve the purposes of the Agreement;\n(b) to define a process and context for raising and addressing water and\nrelated natural resource management issues in the Lake Eyre Basin\nAgreement Area that have cross-border impacts, particularly those\nrelated to water quantity and quality, and flow regimes;\n(c) to establish institutional arrangements for the development or adoption\nof Policies and Strategies and for the adoption of any relevant\nmanagement plans established by a State;\n(d) to provide for each of the Parties, so far as they are able within their\nrespective jurisdictions, to progress the implementation of Policies and\nStrategies developed or adopted under this Agreement and to make\nmanagement decisions and allocate resources accordingly;\n(e) to provide a mechanism to review Policies and Strategies;\n(f) to provide for the Parties to jointly promote and support the\nmanagement of water and related natural resources through a\ncooperative approach between community, industry and other\nstakeholders, and all levels of government in the sustainable\nmanagement of the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area;\n(g) to encourage, promote and support water and related resource\nmanagement practices which are compatible with the spirit and intent\nof the Agreement;\n(h) to encourage and promote research and monitoring to improve\nunderstanding and support informed decision making in the Lake Eyre\nBasin Agreement Area;\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 7\n(i) to provide for the review and, if necessary, revision of the\nAgreement from time to time; and\n(j) to raise general public awareness of the special biodiversity and\nheritage values of the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area.\nPart III – Guiding Principles\n3.1 Consideration of all issues and the making of all decisions under this\nAgreement will be guided by the following Principles, namely that it be\nacknowledged:\n(a) that the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area has important social,\nenvironmental, economic and cultural values which need to be\nconserved and promoted;\n(b) that there are landscapes and watercourses in the Lake Eyre Basin\nAgreement Area that are valuable for aesthetic, wilderness, cultural\nand tourism purposes;\n(c) that naturally variable flow regimes and the maintenance of water\nquality are fundamental to the health of the aquatic ecosystems in the\nLake Eyre Basin Agreement Area;\n(d) that the water requirements for ecological processes, biodiversity and\necologically significant areas within the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement\nArea should be maintained, especially by means of flow variability and\nseasonality;\n(e) that flooding throughout the catchments within the Lake Eyre Basin\nAgreement Area is beneficial in that it makes a significant contribution\nto pastoral activities as well as flood plain ecosystem processes;\n(f) that the storage and use of water both within and away from\nwatercourses, and the storage and use of water from associated\nground water, are all linked and should be considered together, and\nthat water resources throughout catchments within the Lake Eyre\nBasin Agreement Area should be managed on an integrated basis;\n(g) that precautionary approaches need to be taken so as to minimise the\nimpact on known environmental attributes, and reduce the possibility\nof affecting poorly understood ecological functions;\n(h) that natural resource management decisions need to be made within\nthe context of the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable\nDevelopment and relevant national and international obligations;\n(i) that the collective local knowledge and experience of the Lake\nEyre Basin Agreement Area communities are of significant\nvalue; and\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 8\n(j) that decisions need to be based on the best available scientific and\ntechnical information together with the collective local knowledge and\nexperience of communities within the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement\nArea.\nPart IV – Roles of the Parties\nResponsibilities and Interests of all Parties\n4.1 The following will guide the Parties in defining the roles, responsibilities and\ninterests of the Parties in relation to the achievement of the objectives of this\nAgreement.\nResponsibilities and Interests of the Commonwealth\n4.2 The responsibilities and interests of the Commonwealth in safeguarding and\naccommodating matters of national interest include ensuring that the policies\nor practices of a State that affect or might affect the water and related natural\nresources to which this Agreement applies, do not result in significant adverse\nexternal effects in relation to another State.\n4.3 When considering its responsibilities and interests under Clause 4.2 the\nCommonwealth will have regard to the role of the States in dealing with\nsignificant adverse external effects in accordance with the requirements of the\nIntergovernmental Agreement on the Environment, and any action taken\npursuant to that Agreement.\n4.4 The Commonwealth will monitor the activities of the States in the Lake Eyre\nBasin Agreement Area to ensure Australia meets its international obligations\nin accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment.\n4.5 The Commonwealth has responsibility for the management (including\noperational policy) of natural resources on land which the Commonwealth\nowns or which it occupies for its own use.\n4.6 The Commonwealth will ensure that matters of national interest relating to\nenvironmental protection, sustainable agriculture and water and related\nnatural resources management in the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area are\nappropriately addressed in consultation with the States.\n4.7 The Commonwealth will consult with the States as required by the\nIntergovernmental Agreement on the Environment prior to entry into any\ninternational agreement which may directly impact on the Lake Eyre Basin\nAgreement Area.\nResponsibilities and Interests of the States\n4.8 Each State will continue to have responsibility for the development and\nimplementation of policy in relation to matters concerning the Lake Eyre Basin\nAgreement Area which have no significant effects on the water and related\nnatural resources of the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 9\n4.9 Each State will continue to have responsibility for its policy formulation and\nthe administration of its legislation relevant to water and related natural\nresource management within the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area, but in so\ndoing will, to the fullest extent that it is able, comply with this Agreement and\nany applicable Policies and Strategies developed or adopted under it. Further,\nto the extent that may be necessary, each State will use its best endeavours\nto secure the passage through its respective Parliament of legislation for the\npurpose of conforming with and implementing this Agreement and any such\nPolicies and Strategies.\n4.10 Each State will assist in the encouragement and promotion of research and\nmonitoring to facilitate informed decision making for the Lake Eyre Basin\nAgreement Area, and the sharing of access to the results of such research\nand monitoring so far as either State may control such access.\n4.11 Each State will consult with and involve Local Government (where relevant) in\nthe implementation of this Agreement and the Policies and Strategies\ndeveloped or adopted under it to the extent that State statutes and\nadministrative arrangements authorise or delegate relevant responsibilities to\nLocal Government, and in a manner which reflects the concept of partnership\nbetween the Commonwealth, State and Local Governments.\nPart V – Institutional Structure\nConstitution of the Ministerial Forum\n5.1 The Ministerial Forum is constituted.\n5.2 The Ministerial Forum will consist of one Minister from each State and one\nMinister of the Commonwealth. Each Party will appoint its Minister from time\nto time, by notice in writing to each other Party.\n5.3 Whenever a member of the Ministerial Forum is:\n(a) unable for any reason to attend a meeting of the Ministerial Forum; or\n(b) otherwise unable to perform the duties of a member of the Ministerial\nForum, another Minister of that State or the Commonwealth will be\nappointed to act in the place of that member, and while so acting that\nother Minister will have all the responsibilities and perform all the\nduties of that member.\nProcedures of the Ministerial Forum\n5.4 The Ministerial Forum will meet at least once in each year but otherwise at\nsuch times as it sees fit and will, subject to this Agreement, determine its own\nprocedure.\n5.5 A resolution before the Ministerial Forum will be carried only by a unanimous\nvote.\n5.6 The Commonwealth Minister will act as the chair of the Ministerial Forum.\n5.7 A permanent record of all resolutions of the Ministerial Forum will be kept.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 10\nFunctions of the Ministerial Forum\n5.8 The Ministerial Forum will be responsible for the implementation of this\nAgreement.\nCommunity Advice and Representation\n5.9 The Ministerial Forum will ensure that it has satisfactory access to community\nadvice in relation to matters relevant to this Agreement.\n5.10 For that purpose the Ministerial Forum may either:\n5.10.1 adopt one or more independently formed groups, committees or\nbodies to provide community advice representation and feedback; or\n5.10.2 appoint the members of a committee to perform that function.\n5.11 Whichever means of access to community advice the Ministerial Forum\nselects the following will apply:\n5.11.1 There will be appropriate representation of:\n(a) Aboriginal interests;\n(b) pastoral interests;\n(c) agricultural interests;\n(d) mining and petroleum interests;\n(e) conservation interests;\n(f) tourism interests;\n(g) matters and interests affecting the Cooper Creek River system\nas referred to in clause 1.1 of this Agreement; and\n(h) matters and interests affecting the Diamantina River system as\nreferred to in clause 1.1 of this Agreement; and\n5.11.2 The following roles will be satisfactorily performed:\n(a) representation of the various interests referred to in\nsub-clause 5.11.1;\n(b) the seeking out of community views relevant to matters\ncovered by this Agreement and the communication of those\nviews to the Ministerial Forum;\n(c) the communication of decisions and initiatives of the Ministerial\nForum to the various communities; and\n(d) the performance of such other functions relevant to this\nAgreement as the Ministerial Forum may require.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 11\n5.12 This clause will apply if the Ministerial Forum chooses to adopt one or more\nindependently formed groups, committees or bodies to provide advice\nrepresentation and feedback.\n(a) Subject to the availability of funds under Part XI of this Agreement, the\nindependently formed groups committees and bodies will receive such\nallowances and expenses as the Ministerial Forum may from time to\ntime determine, such payments to be disbursed or divided amongst\nindividual members in such manner as those groups committees or\nbodies may themselves decide.\n(b) The Ministerial Forum may at any time determine that any one or more\nor all of the adopted groups committees or bodies will cease to be its\nprovider of community advice, representation and feedback provided\nhowever that the Ministerial Forum will within a reasonable time (and\nin any event before any relevant significant decisions are made)\nreplace that source of community advice in accordance with this\nAgreement.\n5.13 This clause will apply if the Ministerial Forum chooses to appoint a committee\nto provide community advice, representation and feedback.\n(a) Each member will be appointed by the Ministerial Forum.\n(b) In appointing members to represent Aboriginal interests the Ministerial\nForum will have regard, as a fundamental element of its decisions, to\nsuch recommendations as the Aboriginal communities of the Lake\nEyre Basin Agreement Area may choose to make.\n(c) The Ministerial Forum may appoint members of the committee from\ntime to time to fill vacancies.\n(d) The Ministerial Forum may at any time appoint to the committee such\nadditional members as it thinks fit.\n(e) The appointment of members of the committee will be for a period of\nthree years from the date of each appointment provided however that\nmembers will be eligible for re-appointment for such terms from time to\ntime as the Ministerial Forum thinks appropriate.\n(f) Subject to the availability of funds under Part XI of this Agreement, a\nmember of the committee will receive such allowances and expenses\nas the Ministerial Forum may from time to time determine.\n(g) The Ministerial Forum may at any time terminate the appointment of\nindividual members or disband the committee:\n(i) if of the opinion that the member or members or the\ncommittee is or are no longer substantially representing\nthe interests or matters in respect of which the member\nor members or the committee as the case may be was\nor were appointed; or\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 12\n(ii) for such reason as the Ministerial Forum considers\nappropriate, provided however that the Ministerial Forum\nwill within a reasonable time (and in any event before\nany relevant significant decisions are made) appoint or\nre-appoint members of the committee in accordance with\nthis Agreement, or, if the whole committee has been\ndisbanded, replace that source of community advice in\naccordance with this Agreement.\n(h) The Ministerial Forum may appoint to the committee the individual\nmembers of a group, committee or body independently formed. To the\nextent that may be necessary to satisfy the requirements of this\nAgreement, the Ministerial Forum will appoint additional members.\nPart VI – Conference\n6.1 The Ministerial Forum may from time to time arrange a conference to be\nattended by the members of the Ministerial Forum, members of committees\nappointed or adopted under this Agreement and of other interested groups,\ninterested individuals, scientific and technical advisers and senior government\nofficers.\n6.2 There will be a conference at least once before the second anniversary of the\neffective date of this Agreement and thereafter on at least a biennial basis.\n6.3 The purpose of such conferences will be to exchange information and views\non issues relevant to the operation of this Agreement.\nPart VII – Scientific and Technical Advice\n7.1 The Ministerial Forum may seek scientific and technical advice relevant to this\nAgreement from such persons or bodies as it thinks appropriate. In particular,\nthe Ministerial Forum may obtain scientific and/or technical advice in relation\nto the identification of requirements for the effective monitoring of the\ncondition of the rivers and catchments within the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement\nArea and the establishment of programs to meet those requirements.\n7.2 The Ministerial Forum may if it thinks appropriate, establish a panel of\nscientists and technicians for the purpose of providing advice to the\nMinisterial Forum relevant to this Agreement.\nPart VIII – Policies and Strategies\n8.1 The Ministerial Forum will, without unnecessary delay, develop or adopt\nPolicies and Strategies for the management of the Lake Eyre Basin\nAgreement Area in accordance with the purpose, objectives and Principles\nset out in this Agreement.\n8.2 The Ministerial Forum may vary or revoke such Policies and Strategies, and\nmay make supplementary Policies and Strategies.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 13\n8.3 The Ministerial Forum may adopt management plans prepared by the States\nif those plans are consistent with this Agreement and with the Policies\ndeveloped or adopted by the Ministerial Forum for the management of the\nLake Eyre Basin Agreement Area, and once adopted, such management\nplans prepared by the States will be treated as plans of the Ministerial Forum\nunder this Agreement.\nContent of Policies and Strategies\n8.4 The Policies and Strategies will make provision for such matters as the\nMinisterial Forum thinks fit, including but not limited to:\n(a) objectives for water quality and river flows;\n(b) objectives for water and related natural resource management in the\nLake Eyre Basin Agreement Area for the achievement of the water\nquality and river flow objectives;\n(c) catchment management policies and strategies for the achievement,\nas far as practicable, of the water quality and river flow objectives;\n(d) policies for dealing with relevant existing entitlements under State laws\nand significant water related developments; and\n(e) research and monitoring requirements and programs to meet those\nrequirements.\nPart IX – Ratification and Effective Date\n9.1 This Agreement, other than Part IX, is subject to approval and ratification by\nthe Parliaments of South Australia and Queensland and will come into effect\nwhen so approved and ratified by the Parliaments of both States.\n9.2 Any amendment of this Agreement, including the addition or amendment of a\nSchedule approved by the Ministerial Forum under clause 10 or 12, is subject\nto approval and ratification by the Parliaments of South Australia and\nQueensland and will come into effect when so approved and ratified.\n9.3 Each State will take all practical steps to seek the enactment of legislation:\n(a) approving and ratifying this Agreement, and any amendment to this\nAgreement which may be approved by the Ministerial Forum from time\nto time, on behalf of the State; and\n(b) authorising and requiring the performance and observance of this\nAgreement by the Government of the State.\nPart X – Review and Amendment Review\n10.1 The Ministerial Forum must cause a review of:\n(a) the operation of this Agreement; and\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 14\n(b) the extent to which the objectives set out in Clause 2.2 of this\nAgreement have been achieved,\nto be undertaken without unnecessary delay after the fifth anniversary of the\neffective date of this Agreement, and thereafter on a ten yearly basis.\n10.2 A report of each review required under clause 10.1 is to be tabled in the\nParliament of each State and presented to the Commonwealth Minister within\n12 months after completion of it.\n10.3 The Ministerial Forum must cause a review of all Policies and Strategies to be\nundertaken without unnecessary delay after the fifth anniversary of the\ndevelopment or adoption of them, and thereafter as necessary but in any\nevent not less frequently than every ten years.\n10.4 The Ministerial Forum must cause a review of the condition of all\nwatercourses and catchments within the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area to\nbe undertaken without unnecessary delay after the effective date of this\nAgreement, and thereafter on a ten yearly basis.\nAmendment\n10.5 The Ministerial Forum may approve such amendments to this Agreement,\nincluding amendments to or addition of schedules to this Agreement, as the\nMinisterial Forum considers desirable from time to time.\nPart XI – Funding and Accountability Arrangements\n11.1 Subject to the availability of respective appropriations, the Commonwealth\nand the States will make available all necessary financial and other resources\nfor the establishment and operation of the Ministerial Forum and associated\ninstitutional arrangements.\n11.2 The Commonwealth and the States will determine and agree appropriate\ncost-sharing arrangements which reflect their respective roles and\nresponsibilities under this Agreement.\n11.3 Any group committee or body appointed or adopted under Part V and which\nreceives funding under this Agreement will produce to the Ministerial Forum in\nrespect of each financial year a full account of its application of all funds\nreceived by it together with a report of its activities towards which such\nfunding has been applied.\nPart XII – Further Parties\nAccession by New Parties\n12.1 The State of New South Wales and the Northern Territory may become\nparties to this Agreement:\n(a) with the consent of the existing Parties; and\n(b) on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the existing\nParties in a Schedule to this Agreement.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 15\n12.2 The Ministerial Forum may approve any Schedule prepared pursuant to\nClause 12.1(b).\n12.3 This Agreement will not apply to the State of New South Wales or the\nNorthern Territory until:\n(a) a copy of the Agreement incorporating the Schedule provided for in\nParagraph 12.1(b) has been signed on behalf of that State or Territory\nand the Parliament of that State or Territory has approved this\nAgreement, including the Schedule; and\n(b) the Schedule has been approved and ratified by the States under\nPart IX.\n12.4 Each State will take the steps referred to in Part IX for the approval and\nratification of any schedule approved by the Ministerial Forum under this\nclause.\nPart XIII – General\nCounterparts\n13. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and all of\nthose counterparts taken together constitute one and the same instrument.\n[Signed on 13 October 2000 in the presence of a witness by the Minister for the\nEnvironment and Heritage of the Commonwealth.\nSigned on 21 October 2000 in the presence of a witness by the Minister for\nEnvironment and Heritage and Natural Resources of the State of Queensland.\nThe common seal of the Minister for Water Resources of the State of South Australia\naffixed and signed by the Minister in the presence of a witness on 21 October 2000.]\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 16\nSchedule 1:\nTHE LAKE EYRE BASIN AGREEMENT AREA\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 17\nSchedule 2\nDEED dated the Tenth day of June 2004.\nBETWEEN:\nTHE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (\"the Commonwealth\")\nAND\nTHE STATE OF QUEENSLAND (\"Queensland\")\nAND\nTHE STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA (\"South Australia\")\nAND\nTHE NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA (\"the Northern Territory\")\nBACKGROUND\n1. On the 21st day of October 2000, the Commonwealth, Queensland and South\nAustralia (“the Original Parties”) entered into the LAKE EYRE BASIN\nINTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT (“the Original Agreement”) to\nprovide for the establishment of arrangements for the management of water\nand related natural resources for that portion of the Lake Eyre Basin as\nidentified in Clause 1.1 of the Agreement.\n2. The Northern Territory wishes to become a party to the Original Agreement.\n3. The Original Parties:\n(a) have agreed to admit the Northern Territory as a party to the Original\nAgreement; and\n(b) wish to amend certain provisions of the Original Agreement as set out\nin this Deed.\nOPERATIVE PART:\n1. MEANING OF WORDS\n(a) \"Effective Date\" means, pursuant to clause 12 of the Original\nAgreement, the date on which this Deed is approved and ratified by\nthe Parliaments of Queensland, South Australia and the Northern\nTerritory.\n(b) All other capitalised terms in this Deed have the meaning given to\nthem in the Original Agreement.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 18\n2. CHANGES TO PARTIES\nOn and from the Effective Date the Northern Territory:\n(a) becomes a Party to the Original Agreement; and\n(b) is bound by the terms of the Original Agreement in all respects as if\nthe Northern Territory had been named as a Party to the Original\nAgreement.\n3. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT\nThe Original Agreement is varied in the following manner:\n(a) by removing clause 1.1 and replacing it with the following clause:\n“1.1 This Agreement applies to that area of the Lake Eyre Basin\n(the Agreement Area) encompassing portions of Queensland,\nSouth Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia, as\ndepicted in Schedule 1 of this Agreement, including within that\narea the following river systems and associated catchments,\nfloodplains, overflow channels, lakes, wetlands and sub-\nartesian waters dependent on surface flows of:\na. the Cooper Creek system and associated tributaries in\nQueensland and South Australia;\nb. the Diamantina River system and associated tributaries\nin Queensland and South Australia;\nc. the Georgina River system and associated tributaries in\nQueensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory;\nd. the Hay River system and associated tributaries in\nQueensland and the Northern Territory; and\ne. the Finke River and Todd River systems and associated\ntributaries in the Northern Territory.\n(b) by adding the following sub-clause (h) to clause 1.3:\n“a reference to a “State” includes the Northern Territory.”\n(c) by removing sub-clause 9.2 and replacing it with the following sub-\nclause:\n“9.2 Any amendment of this Agreement, including the addition or\namendment of a Schedule approved by the Ministerial Forum\nunder clause 10 or 12, is subject to approval and ratification by\nthe Parliaments of Queensland, South Australia and the\nNorthern Territory and will come into effect when so approved\nand ratified.”\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 19\n(d) by replacing the map in Schedule 1 of the Original Agreement with the\nmap at Annexure A to this Deed.\n(e) by this Deed becoming a schedule to the Original Agreement being\n“Schedule 2”.\n4. TERMS AND CONDITIONS\nFor the purpose of clause 12.1 of the Original Agreement, the terms and\nconditions prescribed by the Original Parties are as set out in Annexure B to\nthis Deed.\n5. GENERAL\n(a) Each party must:\n(a) use its best efforts to do all things necessary or desirable to\ngive full effect to this Deed; and\n(b) refrain from doing anything that might hinder performance of\nthis Deed.\n(b) This Deed may be signed in any number of counterparts.\n(c) Except as varied above the Original Agreement remains in full force\nand effect.\n[Signed, sealed and delivered on 10 June 2004 in the presence of a witness by the\nMinister for the Environment and Heritage of the Commonwealth.\nSigned, sealed and delivered on 10 June 2004 in the presence of a witness by the\nMinister for Natural Resources Mines and Energy of the State of Queensland.\nSigned, sealed and delivered on 10 June 2004 in the presence of a witness for and\non behalf of the Northern Territory of Australia by the Minister for Central Australia.\nThe common seal of the Minister for Environment and Conservation of the State of\nSouth Australia affixed and signed by the Minister in the presence of a witness on 10\nJune 2004.]\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 20\nAnnexure A\nAnnexure A:\nTHE LAKE EYRE BASIN AGREEMENT AREA\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 21\nAnnexure B\nTerms\nThe Northern Territory will join the Original Agreement on the following terms agreed\nby and with the Original Parties:\na) the Northern Territory will contribute financial and other resources of $50,000\nper annum towards the Ministerial Forum Budget, at least $10,000 of which\nwill provided as a cash contribution;\nb) the cash component of the Northern Territory contribution will be managed in\naccordance with existing financial arrangements agreed by parties, but will be\ntargeted to travel and other costs involved in supporting Northern Territory\nparticipation in the Community Advisory Committee to the Ministerial Forum;\nc) the remainder of the Northern Territory contribution will be drawn from natural\nresource management, environmental or other program activities within the\nAgreement Area that support the objectives of the Lake Eyre Basin Inter-\ngovernmental Agreement (but excluding any activities funded jointly through\nexisting Commonwealth – Territory agreements).\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 22\nSchedule 3\nDEED dated the 23rd day of January 2007\nBETWEEN:\nTHE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (\"the Commonwealth\")\nAND\nTHE STATE OF QUEENSLAND (\"Queensland\")\nAND\nTHE STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA (\"South Australia\")\nand\nTHE NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA (\"the Northern Territory\")\nBACKGROUND:\nA. On the 21st day of October 2000, the Commonwealth, Queensland and South\nAustralia (“the Original Parties”) entered into the LAKE EYRE BASIN\nINTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT (“the Original Agreement”) to\nprovide for the establishment of arrangements for the management of water\nand related natural resources for that portion of the Lake Eyre Basin as\nidentified in clause 1.1 of the Original Agreement.\nB. On the 10th day of June 2004, the Original Parties and the Northern Territory\nexecuted a Deed to admit the Northern Territory as a party to the Original\nAgreement and to make certain other amendments to the Original\nAgreement.\nC. The Parties now wish to extend the boundaries of the area covered under the\nOriginal Agreement as set out in this Deed.\nOPERATIVE PART:\n1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION\n1.1 “Effective Date” means, pursuant to clause 9.2 of the Original\nAgreement, the date on which this Deed is approved and ratified by\nthe Parliaments of Queensland, South Australia and the Northern\nTerritory.\n1.2 All other capitalised terms used in this Deed have the meaning given\nto them in the Original Agreement.\n2. EFFECTIVE DATE\nOn and from the Effective Date, the parties become bound by the terms of\nthis Deed.\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 23\n3. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT\nThe Original Agreement is varied in the following manner:\n3.1 By removing clause 1.1 and replacing it with the following clause:\n3.2 “1.1 This Agreement applies to that area of the Lake Eyre Basin (the\nAgreement Area) encompassing portions of Queensland, South\nAustralia and the Northern Territory of Australia as depicted in\nSchedule 1 to this Agreement, including within that area the following\nriver systems, associated catchments, floodplains, overflow channels,\nlakes, wetlands and sub-artesian waters dependent on surface flows\nof:\n3.2.1 the Cooper Creek system and associated tributaries in\nQueensland and South Australia;\n3.2.2 the Diamantina River system and associated tributaries in\nQueensland and South Australia;\n3.2.3 the Georgina river system and associated tributaries in\nQueensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory;\n3.2.4 the Hay river system and associated tributaries in\nQueensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory;\n3.2.5 the Finke River systems and associated tributaries in South\nAustralia and Northern Territory including the Finke, Hamilton,\nAlberga and Macumba River systems,\n3.2.6 Witjira National Park, Simpson Desert Conservation Park and\nSimpson Desert Regional Reserve in South Australia;\n3.2.7 the Todd River systems and associated tributaries Northern\nTerritory; and\n3.2.8 the Neales river systems and associated tributaries including\nArkaringa, Lora and Peake Creeks in South Australia\n3.2.9 the Douglas Creek river system and including Umbum and\nSunny Creeks\n3.3 by replacing the map in Schedule 1 to the Original Agreement with\nthe map at Annexure A to this Deed,\n3.4 by this Deed becoming a schedule to the Original Agreement being\n“Schedule 3”.\n4. GENERAL\n4.1 Each party must:\n4.1.1 use its best efforts to do all things necessary or desirable to\ngive full effect to this Deed; and\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 24\n4.1.2 refrain from doing anything that might hinder performance of\nthis Deed.\n4.2 This Deed may be signed in any number of counterparts.\n4.3 Except as varied above the Original Agreement remains in full force\nand effect.\n[Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of a witness by the Minister for the\nEnvironment and Heritage of the Commonwealth.\nSigned, sealed and delivered in the presence of a witness by the Minister for Natural\nResources and Water of the State of Queensland.\nThe common seal of the Minister for Environment and Conservation of the State of\nSouth Australia affixed and signed by the Minister in the presence of a witness.\nSigned, sealed and delivered in the presence of a witness for and on behalf of the\nNorthern Territory of Australia by the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment\nand Heritage.]\n\nSchedule Agreement\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 25\n\nENDNOTES\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 26\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nLake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2009 (Act No. 13, 2009)\nAssent date 26 May 2009\nCommenced 9 September 2009 (Gaz G36, 9 September 2009, p 3)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Agreement’s scope expanded beyond the original 2000 arrangement between the Commonwealth, Queensland and South Australia. The 2004 Deed (Schedule 2) admitted the Northern Territory as a Party, adjusted the Agreement Area to include additional river systems (including the Georgina, Hay, Finke and Todd River systems) and established terms for the NT's financial contribution (Annexure B). The 2007 Deed (Schedule 3) further extended the mapped Agreement Area to include additional river systems, protected areas and catchments (for example Witjira National Park, Simpson Desert Conservation Park, Neales and Douglas Creek systems). These amendments materially broadened the geographic coverage and the set of participating governments compared with the original Agreement (see Schedule Schedules 2 and 3 and clauses replacing 1.1 and amending clause 9.2)."},"complexity_factors":["Act proper is short (5 sections) but incorporates a lengthy Agreement as a Schedule with multiple Parts and Schedules.","Agreement contains many defined terms and cross‑references across Parts I–XIII.","Two amending deeds (Schedule 2 dated 10 June 2004; Schedule 3 dated 23 January 2007) that alter parties and geographic scope, increasing cross‑referencing.","Unanimity voting rule for the Ministerial Forum (clause 5.5) creates procedural complexity for decision‑making.","Multiple conditional processes and periodic review cycles (first review at 5 years, then 10‑year cycles; clauses 10.1–10.4).","Detailed community advisory arrangements with specific representation categories and appointment/termination powers (clauses 5.9–5.13).","Funding obligations are subject to appropriations and cost‑sharing agreements (clauses 11.1–11.2), creating conditionality.","Implementation depends on State/Territory legislative action and 'best endeavours' commitments (clause 4.9), producing legal and practical dependency on external statutes.","Geographic scope depends on external maps and annexures (Schedule 1 and amending annexures), requiring spatial cross‑checks.","Broad authorisation in the Act for Ministers and agencies to do 'anything reasonably necessary' to ensure observance (s 5) — wide administrative discretion."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanically)\n\n- Approves and ratifies a written intergovernmental agreement called the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement (the Agreement). (s 4 and Schedule.)\n- Authorises the Northern Territory Minister and Territory agencies to take anything \"reasonably necessary\" to make sure the Agreement is performed and observed. (s 5.)\n- Supplies the full text of the Agreement as a schedule to the Act, including two later amending deeds that expand the parties and the geographic scope. (Schedule and Schedules 2–3.)\n\nWhat the Agreement itself requires and sets up\n\n- Geographic scope: it identifies a defined Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Area made up of catchments, river systems, floodplains and related water bodies. The area and the list of included rivers and reserves are set out in Schedule 1 of the Agreement and were extended in the 2004 and 2007 amending deeds (Schedules 2 and 3).\n\n- Purpose and objectives: the Agreement directs the Parties (Commonwealth and the participating States/Territory) to develop and implement Policies and Strategies to manage water and related natural resources in the Agreement Area to avoid or eliminate cross‑border impacts (clauses 2.1–2.2).\n\n- Institutional structure: it creates a Ministerial Forum made up of one Minister from each Party, chaired by the Commonwealth Minister, which meets at least annually and makes decisions only by unanimous vote. The Forum is responsible for implementing the Agreement and developing Policies and Strategies (Part V, clauses 5.1–5.8).\n\n- Community input: the Forum must have access to community advice. It may adopt independent groups or appoint a committee; required representation categories include Aboriginal, pastoral, agricultural, mining/petroleum, conservation and tourism interests, and system‑specific representation (clauses 5.9–5.13).\n\n- Scientific/technical advice, conferences and management plans: the Forum can seek expert advice, hold conferences (at least once before the second anniversary and then at least every two years) and adopt State management plans that are consistent with the Agreement (Parts VI–VIII).\n\n- Content of Policies/Strategies: the Forum’s policies may set objectives for water quality and flows, catchment management approaches, treatment of existing State entitlements and research/monitoring programs (clause 8.4).\n\n- Reviews and reporting: the Forum must cause reviews of the Agreement and its objectives on a timetable (first after five years, then every ten years) and must review Policies/Strategies and catchment condition on similar cycles. Review reports are to be tabled in each State Parliament and presented to the Commonwealth Minister (Part X, clauses 10.1–10.4).\n\n- Funding and accountability: Parties will provide necessary funding subject to their appropriations, determine cost‑sharing arrangements, and require funded advisory groups to account for use of funds (Part XI, clauses 11.1–11.3). The 2004 Deed specifies a Northern Territory contribution of $50,000 per year (Annexure B to Schedule 2).\n\n- Accession and amendment mechanics: the Agreement provides a route for New South Wales and the Northern Territory to join with the consent of existing Parties and sets out ratification requirements (Part XII and Schedule 2 & 3 amendments). Amendments and certain schedules must be approved and ratified by the Parliaments specified in clause 9.2 (Part IX).\n\nWhy the Agreement says it matters (official purpose‑claims)\n\n- The Agreement’s stated purpose is to protect the environmental, economic, social and cultural values of the Lake Eyre Basin by coordinating cross‑border water and related natural resource management and by developing shared Policies and Strategies (clauses 2.1–2.2; Part III Principles). The Agreement also says it is consistent with national water reform frameworks and other intergovernmental environmental agreements (Recitals E–F).\n\nTesting those purpose‑claims against costs, incentives and implementation mechanics\n\n- Who decides: the Ministerial Forum (one minister per Party) is the decision body; decisions require unanimity (clauses 5.2–5.6). That concentrates formal decision power in the hands of ministers and gives each Party an effective veto.\n\n- Who pays: funding is subject to each Party’s appropriations and agreed cost‑sharing (clauses 11.1–11.2). The Act (and Agreement) does not create a dedicated, guaranteed Commonwealth funding stream; funding depends on future budget choices (clause 11.1). The NT contribution terms are specified (Annexure B to Schedule 2).\n\n- Implementation dependence on State/Territory laws: the Agreement leaves primary responsibility for regulation and statutory implementation to the States/Territory (clauses 4.8–4.9). That means the Agreement’s practical effects depend on each jurisdiction changing or aligning its own laws and administrative practice where necessary (clause 4.9).\n\n- Compliance and administrative burden: Parties must conduct periodic reviews, prepare reports for Parliaments, maintain community advisory mechanisms, support scientific monitoring, and account for funded bodies (clauses 10.1–10.4, 5.9–5.13, 7.1–7.2, 11.3). These impose ongoing administrative work and budgetary demands.\n\n- Bureaucratic discretion and flexibility: the Forum has broad powers to adopt Policies, Strategies, and to adopt State management plans if consistent with the Agreement (clauses 8.1–8.3). The Forum also controls how community advice is sourced and can appoint or withdraw advisory bodies (clauses 5.10–5.13). That gives administrative discretion over process and structure.\n\n- Effects on private enterprise and property rights: the Agreement does not itself directly amend private property rights or commercial licences. Primary regulatory effect depends on the States’ and Territory’s laws and on Policies or Strategies the Ministerial Forum may adopt (clause 8.4(d) — policies for dealing with existing entitlements and significant water‑related developments). In practice, resource users (pastoralists, miners, petroleum companies, irrigation users) could face new regulatory constraints or monitoring requirements if Parties implement Policies that change entitlements, allocation rules, or operating conditions.\n\n- Incentives, trade‑offs and risks:\n  - Unanimity voting reduces risk of central imposition but increases the chance of deadlock (clause 5.5).\n  - Funding conditional on appropriations (clause 11.1) and reliance on State legislative action (clause 4.9) create implementation risk and possible under‑resourcing.\n  - Community advisory structures formally include industry and conservation interests (clause 5.11), which ensures stakeholder input but means competing interests may seek to influence Forum decisions; appointments and removals are at the Forum’s discretion (clause 5.13(g)).\n  - The Agreement creates monitoring and review obligations (clauses 10.1–10.4) that generate information but require sustained resources and coordination.\n\nNet effect on behaviour\n\n- Parties are required (or asked to use their best endeavours) to align policies, commit resources, and develop shared Strategies and management plans (clauses 2.1–2.2, 4.9, 8.1–8.3).\n- The Minister and Territory agencies are specifically authorised and required to take reasonable steps to ensure the Agreement is performed (s 5 of the Act).\n- Private actors are still regulated primarily through State law, but may face new constraints or reporting/monitoring requirements depending on the Policies and Strategies the Forum adopts (clause 8.4).\n\nImplementation and practical points to watch (concrete risks and trade‑offs)\n\n- The Agreement’s practical reach depends on the political willingness of each Party to fund and pass implementing legislation (clauses 4.9, 11.1–11.2).\n- Unanimous decision‑making gives each Party protection against unwanted centrally driven measures but also makes coordinated action harder (clause 5.5).\n- The Forum’s ability to adopt State management plans (clause 8.3) creates a path for State‑level actions to gain interstate effect, but only if plans are consistent with the Agreement and are adopted by the Forum.\n- The Agreement provides for expansion of scope and parties (Part XII; Schedules 2–3), which the Parties have used to bring in the Northern Territory and to extend the mapped area; further accession (e.g. New South Wales) is possible but requires approval/ratification.\n\nKey clauses to consult directly: Act s 4–5; Agreement Parts I–XIII, especially clauses 1.1 (area), 2.1–2.2 (purpose/objectives), 5.1–5.8 (Ministerial Forum), 5.5 (unanimity), 5.9–5.13 (community advice), 8.1–8.4 (policies/strategies), 10.1–10.4 (reviews), 11.1–11.3 (funding), and Schedules 2 and 3 (2004 and 2007 amendments expanding parties and area)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown significantly beyond its original 2000 scope. Originally covering only Queensland and South Australia portions of the Cooper Creek and Diamantina/Georgina systems, the 2004 amendment brought in the Northern Territory (adding Georgina, Hay, Finke and Todd Rivers), and the 2007 amendment further expanded to include additional South Australian areas (Witjira National Park, Simpson Desert parks, Neales River system, Douglas Creek) and extended the Finke River system into South Australia. The geographical scope roughly doubled, and the number of participating jurisdictions increased from three to four."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping documents: the Act incorporates the original 2000 Agreement plus two amending deeds (2004 and 2007), requiring readers to cross-reference between three separate instruments","Defined terms scattered across clauses: 9 defined terms in the Agreement itself (clause 1.2), plus interpretation rules in clause 1.3 that modify standard meanings","Institutional machinery: establishes a Ministerial Forum with specific voting rules (unanimity required), appointment procedures, and community advisory structures with detailed representation requirements","Conditional expansion mechanism: Part XII allows new parties (NSW and NT) to join, but only with consent and parliamentary ratification — the NT joined via this mechanism in 2004 and boundaries expanded in 2007","Nested geographical scope: the Agreement Area is defined by reference to a map (Schedule 1) plus textual descriptions of river systems that changed across the three versions","Obligations qualified by 'so far as reasonably practicable' and 'best endeavours' language, creating soft rather than hard legal duties"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation is the Northern Territory's way of formally signing up to a cooperative deal with the Commonwealth, Queensland and South Australia to protect the Lake Eyre Basin — one of Australia's most important and fragile desert river systems.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Approves and ratifies** the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement, which originally started in 2000 between the Commonwealth, Queensland and South Australia, and was later expanded to include the Northern Territory in 2004 and again in 2007.\n- **Expands the protected area** to include Northern Territory river systems like the Georgina, Hay, Finke and Todd Rivers, plus additional areas in South Australia.\n- **Creates a management framework** where ministers from each jurisdiction meet regularly (the \"Ministerial Forum\") to develop policies and strategies for managing water and natural resources without harming neighbouring states or territories.\n- **Requires cooperation** — the Northern Territory Minister and government agencies must do whatever is reasonably necessary to honour the agreement.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Communities and industries** in the Lake Eyre Basin, including pastoralists, Aboriginal traditional owners, miners, tourism operators and conservation groups.\n- **State and territory governments** — particularly environment and water ministers who must coordinate decisions across borders.\n- **Local governments** in the region, who are to be consulted on implementation.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe Lake Eyre Basin contains some of Australia's last free-flowing desert rivers. This law ensures the Northern Territory doesn't act alone when making decisions about water use, mining or development that could affect downstream communities in South Australia or Queensland. It locks in principles like protecting natural flow patterns, respecting Aboriginal knowledge, and using the best available science — all decided by unanimous agreement among the jurisdictions."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009","history":"/api/acts/lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009/history","analysis":"/api/acts/lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/lake-eyre-basin-intergovernmental-agreement-act-2009/documents"}}