LABOR’s environment and water spokesman Tony Burke has threatened to amend Plan’s legislation to guarantee a 450 gigalitre bucket of water flows to South Australia.
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In 2012 Mr Burke, then Water and Environment Minister, secured South Australia’s signature to the intergovernmental Basin Plan agreement with a promise of 450GL of so-called “upwater”, to come from irrigation efficiency projects in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
Upstream states have viewed the upwater clause with cynicism ever since, with irrigators and state water ministers argue it elevates politics above irrigation communities. Mr Burke maintains environmental needs demand the upwater is delivered.
To introduce legislative changes without consulting Basin states would completely undermine the deal struck in 2012 and NSW would be forced to rethink its position
- Niall Blair
Mr Burke said unless Water Minister Barnaby Joyce delivered the maximum potential water recovery, he would push for an amendment to the Water Act to prevent full access for upstream states to a potential reduction of 650GL to water recovery through constraints management, known as sustainable diversion limit adjustments (see page left).
“Labor will have no choice, when this bill reaches the Senate, but to move an amendment to the Water Act which says, 'You cannot get the full 650GL unless the 450GL is delivered as well’,” Mr Burke said.
His threat was spurred by comments from Mr Joyce, who wrote to SA Water Minister Ian Hunter in November last year, notifyin him that legislation dictated upwater would only be delivered if it doesn’t cause unacceptable socio-economic impacts.
NSW Regional Water Minister Niall Blair said Mr Burke’s move puts his state’s support for the Basin Plan in jeopardy.
It was “absolutely clear” the upwater can only be delivered if “it is socio-economic neutral or beneficial for communities, he said.
“To introduce legislative changes without consulting Basin states would completely undermine the deal struck in 2012 and NSW would be forced to rethink its position.”
By Mike Foley, with Colin Bettles
