Australia’s peak conservation groups covering every basin state have warned more funding will be needed to reach Basin Plan targets and restore rivers to health.
Environment Victoria, Nature Conservation Council NSW, Queensland Conservation Council and the SA Conservation Council said the Albanese Government had clear election commitments to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full — but this budget didin’t include the additional funding needed for water recovery.
Tyler Rotche, Environment Victoria’s healthy rivers campaigner, said under the Coalition, years were lost and billions of dollars on handouts and dodgy offset schemes.
“Now water’s more expensive — the Albanese Government needs to allocate more money for water recovery,” Mr Rotche said.
“The Albanese Government has some leftover funding. The bulk of the $1.575 billion to recover 450 billion litres went unspent, while the Murray-Darling faced mass fish kills and toxic blackwater events.
“The government needs to get the most water for the funds already set aside.
“Purchasing water from willing sellers is the most reliable option. It’s by far the most straightforward, aboveboard and cost-effective method on the table.”
South Australian Conservation Council chief executive Craig Wilkins said Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek had so far shown genuine commitment to deliver more water under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
“But this budget hasn’t committed the additional funding required to return the system to health,” Mr Wilkins said.
Last October the Federal Government announced it had put aside an undisclosed sum to secure water under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The government cited “commercial sensitivities” for the secrecy.
