South Australian Politicians Call for Full Delivery of Murray-Darling Basin Plan

A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers from South Australia has assembled in Canberra to demand the full implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, highlighting concerns that other states are failing to meet their water-saving commitments. The joint effort brought together members from Labor, the Liberal Party, the Greens, and an independent MP to urge action as the federal government evaluates options to address a significant water recovery deficit.

The push comes after a recent report by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority revealed a 265-gigalitre shortfall under the plan. The gap has resulted from the non-delivery of various state-run water-saving initiatives originally designed to reduce the need for direct water buybacks. The Murray-Darling Basin system provides water to approximately 2.4 million people across four states, including over one million residents in Adelaide.

Cross-Party Pressure and Differing Views on Buybacks

Federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Murray Watt is currently deliberating on how to resolve the 265-gigalitre deficit. The gathering in Canberra included representatives from the Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance, an organization advocating for government water purchases as the most efficient and cost-effective approach to recover the missing water. This stance contrasts with the official Coalition policy, which opposes voluntary water buybacks.

Liberal Senator Andrew McLachlan participated in the event, stating that South Australia has completed its share of the obligations and criticized Victoria and New South Wales over their management of the issue. While Labor MP Louise Miller-Frost was scheduled to participate in the press conference, she ultimately did not address the media. Meanwhile, the federal government has indicated that further water buybacks have not been ruled out.

Community Frustration Over Delayed Targets

Local residents in South Australia's Riverland region have expressed frustration over the ongoing delays. Neil Burton, a long-time Riverland resident, voiced shock that neighboring states have failed to achieve their targets more than ten years after the establishment of the Basin Plan. He noted that local irrigators previously funded infrastructure upgrades, such as replacing open channels with pipelines, during the 1970s to conserve water.

Burton suggested that mediating the water delivery process through states located outside the basin might help overcome regional biases. A comprehensive review of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is scheduled for completion later this year.