The Federal Government now has in its hands formal acknowledgement that the Murray-Darling Basin Plan cannot be delivered in the time that was originally allocated.
For at least a year, farm and irrigation groups have been warning that the plan cannot be achieved by the June 2024 deadline.
Recently, Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek received formal advice from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority that the plan cannot be delivered on time.
Ms Plibersek spoke to the ABC following this announcement. Below are excerpts from the ABC interview with commentary from Country News and other stakeholders, in italics.
Ms Plibersek: “It is impossible in their (MDBA) view to meet the full water recovery target under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in the time allocated.
“By the middle of next year we should be about 750 Gl ahead of where we are now ...”
ABC: You must have in mind a date on which you can meet that commitment?
Ms Plibersek: “I am currently talking with basin states about how can fully deliver the basin plan. That includes the full 450 Gl of environmental water.
“When we came into the government just 2 Gl of that 450 Gl has been delivered by the previous government. We are now at 26 Gl either delivered or contracted of that 450 Gl.”
Comment: Andrew McConville, MDBA chairman, November 2022: “We’ve seen 2100 gigalitres of water — the equivalent of over four Sydney Harbours — returned to the environment.”
ABC: Have you formed a view on how that (basin plan delivery) could be achieved?
Ms Plibersek: “I have said all options are on the table and that applies to delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full ...
“When it comes to delivering the 450 Gl in full we need to be open to all possible ways of delivering it ... I can’t be any clearer, I have said from the beginning that delivering on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full is going to require voluntary water purchase.”
Comment: National Farmers’ Federation, July 2, 2023: “The National Farmers’ Federation and its member bodies have put forward a range of alternative projects to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, with the potential to restore 1000 Gl or more, without resorting to buybacks.”
ABC: No socio-economic disadvantage for affected irrigation communities?
Ms Plibersek: “Delivering on the plan is vital to the environment ... delivering on the plan is really important for the people of the basin ... a significant contribution to agriculture and tourism ... having water flowing through our rivers is important for the economy and for social impacts that water has. The cultural impacts for First Nation communities.
“So this is not a choice between people and nature. Delivering on the plan is good for nature and vital for communities that rely on the river system.”
ABC: Repeats the question on the socio-economic test and asks about softening the test.
Ms Plibersek: “These are issues we are currently talking to states and territories about ... .but not delivering the plan is the worst socio-economic impact we can have across the basin. We know that basin communities rely on us delivering the plan in full.
“The Labor Government has been working from day one to get the plan back on track.”
Comment: Country News: Despite being told in opposition and then, when elected, that the plan deadline could not be met, the minister waited for 12 months before asking for a report on whether the deadline could be met. There is still no agreed approach among the federal and state governments for a way forward.
Ms Plibersek: “Because I fully intend to deliver the plan we’ve all signed up to.
“And that means every part of the plan. We can’t pick and choose the bits we like and the bits we want to ignore.”
Comment: Country News: Does this statement also apply to the socio-economic test for the 450 Gl?