Investigations

Last updated: 14 Oct 2025

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 10 September 2025:
Open Deferred Closed Referred
40 1 133 10

 

Average time to investigate

On average, it takes less than 90 days to complete an investigation.

As of 10 September 2025:
Timeframe Number Percentage
0-3 months 67 51%
3-6 months 39 29%
6-12 months 11 8%
1-2 years 4 3%
> 2 years 12 9%
Total 133 100%

 

Open investigations

As of 10 September 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
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   34

 

Deferred investigations

As of 10 September 2025:
Jurisdiction Category Number
NSW Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights 1

 

Closed investigations

As of 10 September 2025:
Jurisdiction Category Number
Basin-wide Water announcement 1
  Restrictions on Trade of Tradeable Water Rights 1
  Water Law Administration 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
  Information and reporting requirements 15
  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
  Approval processes for Trade of Tradeable Water Rights 12
  Information and reporting requirements 2
SA Environmental Water 1
  Information and reporting requirements  3
Vic Information and reporting requirements  3
Total   133

 

Referred investigations

As of 10 September 2025:
Referred matters Category Number
QLD Water Law Administration - Water Theft 6
NSW Water Law Administration 1
  Environmental water 1
  Water Law Administration - Water Theft 2
Total   10

 

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Inspector-General of Water Compliance: Investigation statistics by category (PDF 184 KB)
Inspector-General of Water Compliance: Investigation statistics by category (XLSX 73 KB)

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