But environmental groups and scientists say alternative programs to save water have failed and buybacks must resume
The Darling River at Louth, north-west NSW. Federal water minister Tanya Plibersek has tabled a bill that extends the timeframe for completing the government’s Murray-Darling Basin plan by three years and allows buybacks to resume.The Darling River at Louth, north-west NSW. Federal water minister Tanya Plibersek has tabled a bill that extends the timeframe for completing the government’s Murray-Darling Basin plan by three years and allows buybacks to resume.
They are urging substantial water buybacks from farmers who want to sell entitlements, saying that alternative programs of infrastructure projects designed to save water have failed. The bill was expected to pass the lower house on Wednesday but the real test will be in the Senate, where the Greens, who hold the balance of power, are expected to demand tougher action to ensure water reaches South Australia.
About 300GL of the planned 605GL under the sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism is still to be recovered through large projects that are designed to use water more efficiently. A submission by professors Sarah Wheeler, Quentin Grafton and John Quiggin argues that water recovery involving infrastructure projects is 3.1 times more expensive than buybacks.Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersThe scientists also pointed to evidence that many of the projects “are non-performing” and either have not been delivered by the states or fail to deliver the water-saving equivalance promised.
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