Member

We have brought this amendment back because affected communities should be told early and given a meaningful chance to make their case before a scheme enters the NSIP regime. Since then, the Minister has provided detailed assurances and strengthened guidance on early accessible engagement, clearer visibility and accountability from applicants, and an earlier review of the water national policy statement. These commitments are welcome and significant, but we still believe they do not go as far as we had hoped. They fall short of the statutory protections that we believe communities facing total upheaval deserve, but it is clear that this is as far as the Government are willing to go at this stage. Although that is disappointing, we have reached the limits of the changes that can realistically be achieved to the Bill.