The Inspector-General of Water Compliance conducts investigations where there is information about possible non-compliance.
The Inspector-General of Water Compliance can enter lands and buildings to collect information during an investigation.
Where an investigation shows the laws of Basin water use are not followed, the Inspector-General will consider a response guided by its Regulatory Policy.
Investigations overall
- As of 30 June 2025:
| Open | Deferred | Closed | Referred |
| 46 | 1 | 97 | 7 |
Average time to investigate
- As of 30 June 2025:
On average, it takes 118 days to complete an investigation.
| Timeframe | Number | Percentage |
| 0-3 months | 43 | 44% |
| 3-6 months | 39 | 41% |
| 6-12 months | 11 | 11% |
| 1-2 years | 4 | 4% |
| > 2 years | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 97 | 100% |
Open investigations
- As of 30 June 2025:
| Jurisdiction | Category | Number |
| NSW | Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 3 |
| Environmental Water | 1 | |
| Water market trade data obligations | 13 | |
| ACT/NSW | Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 1 |
| QLD | Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 1 |
| Approval Processes for Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 12 | |
| SA | Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 1 |
| Water market trade data obligations | 1 | |
| VIC | Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 2 |
| Water market trade data obligations | 11 | |
| Total | 46 |
Deferred investigations
- As of 30 June 2025:
| Jurisdiction | Category | Number |
| NSW | Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 1 |
Closed investigations
- As of 30 June 2025:
| Jurisdiction | Category | Number |
| Basin-wide | Water announcement | 1 |
| Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 1 | |
| NSW/VIC | Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 2 |
| Environmental Water | 1 | |
| NSW | Environmental Water | 7 |
| Trade of delivery rights | 2 | |
| Implementation of Water Resource Plans | 1 | |
| Information About Water Delivery and Irrigation Rights | 1 | |
| Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 5 | |
| Trade - Information and Reporting Requirements | 60 | |
| Water Delivery | 4 | |
| Water Law Administration | 7 | |
| QLD | Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights | 4 |
| SA | Environmental Water | 1 |
| Total | 97 |
Referred investigations
- As of 30 June 2025:
| Referred matters | Category | Number |
| QLD | Water Law Administration - Water Theft | 6 |
| NSW | Water Law Administration | 1 |
| Total | 7 |
Download
Inspector-General of Water Compliance: Investigation statistics by category (PDF 170 KB)
Inspector-General of Water Compliance: Investigation statistics by category (XLSX 73 KB)
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