Labor’s Murray-darling plan would see water buybacks return, Coulton says
A FIVE-POINT plan by the Labor party to revive the Murray-darling Basin Plan has been critiqued by Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton who believes the plan all but confirms the return of water buybacks.
“Labor’s plan to re-establish a Water Commission and conduct another study will not produce one single extra drop for South Australia. Where is the water coming from in this plan?” Mr Coulton said.
“This plan all but confirms that Labor will re-introduce water buybacks that have been so damaging to Murray-darling Basin communities in the Parkes electorate.”
Mr Coulton said the Labor and Greens parties’ water buybacks had previously hurt the region’s Basin communities, and that his party, The Nationals, had delivered on the Basin Plan and key water policy reform.
“Our record speaks for itself... (including) delivering nearly 98 per cent (2,029GL) of our 2024 Murray-darling Basin water recovery target, and committing to no more buybacks as part of our commitment to putting Basin communities and jobs back at the
heart of the plan, establishing the Inspector-general of Water Compliance in 2021,” he said.
“Basin communities across the Parkes are benefitting from these measures, and I would hate to see all this good work undone.
“The Liberals and Nationals’
commitment to the 2.6 million Australians who call the Basin home is clear – no buybacks, regional strength, and keeping communities at the heart of the Basin Plan.”
However, Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris
Gambian said the five-point plan was an important step towards putting the Murray-darling Basin Plan back on track and “restoring integrity to water management”.
“It’s so refreshing to see steps towards reviving our rivers after years of the Coalition undermining and destroying the Murray-darling Basin Plan for the benefit of a handful of big irrigation concerns,” Mr Gambian said.
“The commitment to deliver 450 gigalitres of water is vital if we are to meet the targets of the plan – which, according to the science, is a bare minimum needed to save rivers, wetlands and sustain river communities.
“Re-establishing the National Water Commission, publishing data and modelling, investing in science, and increasing compliance funding are all vital to restoring public confidence in water management after years of scandal and secrecy.
“The commitment to increase First Nations water ownership is long overdue and would rectify a broken promise made by the current government and deliver some justice for historical wrongs.”
The review of the Murray-darling Basin Plan will occur over the next term of federal government.