A reckoning is coming for the Murray-Darling Basin and its $13 billion management plan. Very few people believe water will be found in time
2 years, 7 months ago

A reckoning is coming for the Murray-Darling Basin and its $13 billion management plan. Very few people believe water will be found in time

ABC  

The lakes and dams are full, the crops bountiful, and birds and fish are returning, but a reckoning is coming for Australia's largest river system. And it hasn't ruled out buying the water back from farmers — a prospect that outrages the Victorian Labor Water Minister Lisa Neville. Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt said some water savings projects would not be completed on time. All allegiances are being tested, but for now, the federal Water Minister Keith Pitt, who was returned to cabinet in return for the Nationals' support for Australia's net zero by 2050 target, is resolute the Coalition government policy is not to buy back water from farmers to meet the water savings deadlines. The challenge for either a federal Coalition or Labor government to convince state water ministers – who haven't met for more than a year – about the best way forward seems almost insurmountable.

Labor Water Plan Minister Federal Pitt River Liberals Nsw South Australia Victorian Nationals Basin Federal Labor Less Water 450Gl 13 Billion Lisa Neville  basin  river  nationals  reckoning  plan  450gl  coming  minister  water  believe  murraydarling  labor  federal  management  13  billion

History of this topic

$100m Indigenous Murray-Darling Basin water fund faces devaluation amid rising prices
4 months, 3 weeks ago

$100m Indigenous Murray-Darling Basin water fund faces devaluation amid rising prices

ABC  

It's a cold winter morning on the banks of the Murray River — or Milloo, as it is called in the Wati Wati language — and about 80 people have gathered under the shelter of a colonial-style inn. "And whatever purchasing that's done through the Aboriginal Water Entitlement could be potentially 30 per cent less water than what they would …

Big irrigators unlikely to sell water in 70 billion-litre buyback scheme, major agribusiness says
5 months ago

Big irrigators unlikely to sell water in 70 billion-litre buyback scheme, major agribusiness says

ABC  

In the Cardross irrigation district, south of Mildura in Victoria's north west, the skeletal remnants of Bob Vale's once-lush wine grape vines are a reminder of a bygone era. Mr Batters said he expected the scale of the federal government buyback to increase the price of permanent water rights by between 50 and 100 per cent over the next three …

Last hurdle cleared as government now set to allow water buybacks for Murray-Darling
1 year ago

Last hurdle cleared as government now set to allow water buybacks for Murray-Darling

ABC  

The Commonwealth will have a green light to enter the water market and buy irrigation water from farmers to boost the environment, with the Albanese government securing the numbers to re-write the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Key points: The federal government has the support it needs to legislate changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan The changes would remove a cap on …

Government strikes Murray-Darling Basin deal with Greens
1 year ago

Government strikes Murray-Darling Basin deal with Greens

ABC  

The Albanese government has struck a deal with the Greens that could see more than 700 gigalitres of water used for farming each year, allocated to the environment through Commonwealth buybacks across the Murray-Darling Basin. Since the $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan was legislated in 2012, more than 2100 gigalitres of water each year has been allocated to the environment, …

Irrigation communities protest at Murray-Darling Basin water buybacks but some still support them
1 year, 1 month ago

Irrigation communities protest at Murray-Darling Basin water buybacks but some still support them

ABC  

Irrigators, councils, and business groups want to stop water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin, but some argue they are the most cost-effective way to recover water for the environment and can be good for farmers. Key points: An academic says water efficiency projects are more expensive and less effective than water buybacks Some irrigators defend buybacks, as they add more …

When Labor states don't dance to Anthony Albanese government's tune
1 year, 1 month ago

When Labor states don't dance to Anthony Albanese government's tune

ABC  

It's helpful for the Albanese Government to have all mainland states in Labor hands – but only up to a point. This week we've seen the Queensland government bite back at federal plans to curb the national infrastructure program, while Victorian resistance to changes to the Murray-Darling water plan prompted Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to lash out. Also, an International …

Murray-Darling Basin buyback scheme overflows as irrigators flock to sell federal government water
1 year, 1 month ago

Murray-Darling Basin buyback scheme overflows as irrigators flock to sell federal government water

ABC  

Irrigators have volunteered to sell the federal government nearly twice the volume of water it hoped to purchase from six different valleys in the Murray-Darling Basin, according to Water Minister Tanya Plibersek. Key points: Nearly 250 irrigators register more than 88GL with the federal government's water buyback tender The Productivity Commission calls for more transparency and funding to complete the …

Murray-Darling Basin Plan facing federal government changes and extended timelines
1 year, 3 months ago

Murray-Darling Basin Plan facing federal government changes and extended timelines

ABC  

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is one of Australia's most ambitious environmental reforms, seeking to restore environmental flows to a river system that nearly collapsed at the end of the Millennium Drought. In 2017, basin state governments used that mechanism to make three key decisions that all involved swapping water recovery with a range of projects that delivered the equivalent environmental …

Tanya Plibersek fast learning Basin politics are more about geography than political party
1 year, 4 months ago

Tanya Plibersek fast learning Basin politics are more about geography than political party

ABC  

The federal water minister has 335 days to find 750 gigalitres of water. For years now Victoria and New South Wales have sought extensions to deliver their commitments under the plan – but their requests have been rejected by the council of basin state water ministers. An agreement by the water minister's council in 2018 set strict criteria about how …

State-run water-saving projects in the Murray-Darling Basin causing federal government headaches
1 year, 10 months ago

State-run water-saving projects in the Murray-Darling Basin causing federal government headaches

ABC  

The southern state water ministers meeting in Sydney today face a huge problem none can simply wash their hands of — the Murray-Darling Basin Plan projects they cannot deliver on time. The $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan has been the law of the land for just over 10 years now, and in that time 98 per cent of the surface …

Federal opposition hints at changes to water savings in Murray-Darling Basin
2 years, 9 months ago

Federal opposition hints at changes to water savings in Murray-Darling Basin

ABC  

Federal Labor has hinted it will seek to tear up a major agreement about how water could be recovered for the environment across the Murray-Darling Basin if it wins this year's election. Key points: Shadow Water Minister Terri Butler says making water recovery difficult undermines the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Labor is yet to announce any basin water policies Water Minister …

Nationals forge ahead with push for water policy after Senate failure
3 years, 6 months ago

Nationals forge ahead with push for water policy after Senate failure

ABC  

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is going off the edge of a cliff and the Nationals — who've spent the majority of the plan's implementation in government — don't want to go with it. Key points: The Nationals have continued their push to rewrite the Murray-Darling Basin water plan The Nats took plea today to the House of Reps, after pushback …

Murray-Darling Basin water tensions bubble over as Nationals break from Liberals
3 years, 6 months ago

Murray-Darling Basin water tensions bubble over as Nationals break from Liberals

ABC  

A bold move by the National Party to split from its Coalition partner and try to rewrite the Murray Darling Basin plan has been defeated in the Senate. Key points: Nationals senators are seeking to change legislation their Lower House colleagues introduced The Senate bid has seen the Nationals break away from their Liberal Coalition partners Labor and the Greens …

Victoria splits from water minister' pack on commitment to Murray-Darling Basin Plan deadlines
3 years, 7 months ago

Victoria splits from water minister' pack on commitment to Murray-Darling Basin Plan deadlines

ABC  

Federal and state Murray-Darling Basin water ministers have pledged to meet a 2024 deadline for a range of water-saving projects, despite reservations from Victoria. Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt said he had commissioned an independent report into the progress of all projects, known as the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism projects, which are supposed to lower the overall water recovery …

First Nations people meet with Murray-Darling Basin Authority to discuss environmental flows
3 years, 8 months ago

First Nations people meet with Murray-Darling Basin Authority to discuss environmental flows

ABC  

Baraba Baraba man Wayne Webster has been sharing his concerns with authorities for decades on the state of the Murray-Darling Basin but feels like his messages have fallen on deaf ears. Key points: Traditional Owners met with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Authority officials acknowledge engagement with communities and First Nations peoples has been poor …

Minister rules out farmer water buybacks, creates new Murray-Darling Basin compliance office
4 years, 3 months ago

Minister rules out farmer water buybacks, creates new Murray-Darling Basin compliance office

ABC  

The Federal Government has committed to not buy any more water from farmers, as an independent review finds a key part of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will not be delivered on time. Key points: Keith Pitt says the Government won't buy any more water from farmers to meet the Basin Plan A new statutory authority will be established to bolster …

Last pieces in Murray-Darling Basin Plan puzzle shows how NSW will manage its water resources
4 years, 5 months ago

Last pieces in Murray-Darling Basin Plan puzzle shows how NSW will manage its water resources

ABC  

Nine critical water resource plans for managing NSW surface water have been published for the first time. Key points: Nine new NSW water resource plans have been released The MDBA will take several months to assess the plans Environment groups concerned about flood plain harvesting and sustainable diversion limits The plans show how New South Wales will regulate the amount …

NSW water plans risk running up against Murray-Darling Basin Authority
4 years, 5 months ago

NSW water plans risk running up against Murray-Darling Basin Authority

ABC  

New South Wales Water Minister Melinda Pavey is standing by key elements of the state's final water-sharing plans lodged with the Murray-Darling Basin Association and the Federal Government, even if they put her at odds with them over floodwater takes in the northern basin. Key points: NSW Water Minister delivers the final nine water-sharing plans to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority …

Murray-Darling Basin irrigators look set to win rule changes after FOI documents reveal lobbying efforts
4 years, 5 months ago

Murray-Darling Basin irrigators look set to win rule changes after FOI documents reveal lobbying efforts

ABC  

Irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin look set to win rule changes that will, in some cases, give them a 400 per cent greater share of water — a move scientists and lawyers say may be unlawful. Key points: After extensive negotiations, the final water sharing plans for the Murray-Darling Basin are due to be finalised next week The plans will …

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