The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has dissolved the national advisory body established less than two years ago to scrutinise major water projects.
This came after an expert member of the body, Stuart Khan, expressed concern, in letters to other members, that the government’s funding announcements to build dams had been made for “brazenly political purposes” and without the advisory body having been given an opportunity to consider the proposals. There is no indication Joyce was aware of the letters or that they played any role in the decision.
