Hugh Schuitemaker, Murray Pioneer

The Federal Government says it is reaching new milestones in recovering environmental water, however senior Riverland politicians claim a focus on fulfilling the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is harming local growers and irrigators.

Statistics released last week by the Federal Government show 286GL of water for the environment has been recovered under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

However, Barker MP Tony Pasin said removing water from production was adding further economic pressure to the Riverland.

“(Federal Minister for Water Tanya) Plibersek and (SA Minister for Water Susan) Close can stand in Adelaide with their Labor mates and spin figures, but they are certainly not fooling anyone who lives and works in the Basin,” Mr Pasin said.

“Let’s be real, only 132GL has been secured through Labor’s buybacks, and 78GL of this 132GL dates back 15 years to when Labor was last in government. That water is sitting in Northern Basin wetlands, not flowing into South Australia as Labor is claiming.

” The remaining 156GL has been ‘identified’ but not purchased.

“If the Federal Water Minister bothered to visit the Riverland in South Australia, rather than simply flying over it on her way to Adelaide, she would be able to hear first-hand from irrigation communities who fear that by targeting desperate growers who are on their knees as a result of Labor’s lack of action to support the inland wine sector, the minister is threatening the social and economic future of river towns.”

Riverland-based MLC, and State Opposition spokesperson for regional South Australia, Nicola Centofanti said “the government’s rushed approach to selling large parcels of water is a clear example of shortsighted decision-making, driven more by the desire to tick a box than any real consideration of long-term consequences”.

“The fact that contracts can be exchanged in a matter of days, while the tender process typically takes months, speaks volumes about their lack of genuine engagement or concern for the consequences of these decisions,” Dr Centofanti said.

“There is $300m sitting in the Sustainable Communities Program which is designed to support Murray-Darling Basin communities affected by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan but yet… South Australia still hasn’t been allocated any of that money.

“By pushing through these sales without adequate transparency or foresight, (State Water Minister) Susan Close and (Federal Water Minister) Tanya Plibersek are setting the stage for significant and potentially irreversible damage to local communities and ecosystems. Their claims of ‘prioritising non-purchase water recovery options’ ring hollow when the reality of these contracts paints a different picture.

“The scale of these transactions is alarming, and the fact that we’re not hearing about which parts of the Basin these water rights are coming from only adds to the uncertainty. With concerns already rising about market distortions and the impact on water prices, it’s essential the government comes clean and explains how these sales will affect both temporary and permanent water markets in the future.”

Dr Close – also currently deputy premier – said balancing the needs of communities, industries, and the environment was a priority.

“This is tremendous news for South Australia and couldn’t come at a better time with drought starting to bite across the state,” Dr Close said.

“Without a healthy Murray River, there is no water for farmers, irrigators or the environment, so this is an unbelievable result, particularly when you consider the Coalition delivered just 2GL in a decade.

“It is the result of almost three years of tireless work by Tanya Plibersek to deliver on the Albanese Government’s promise to South Australians to deliver the Basin Plan in full.

“South Australians now have a clear choice at the upcoming federal election – do we want Barnaby Joyce, who was happy to see our state run dry through the Millennium Drought, managing our River? Or Tanya Plibersek who has kept her word and has literally delivered 100 times more water in three years, than the Coalition did in 10.”

Ms Plibersek said “we know this water is vital to Basin communities and is something that matters deeply to all South Australians”.

“After a decade of sabotage under the Liberals and Nationals, Labor has got the Basin Plan back on track,” Ms Plibersek said.

“I’ve already contracted 130GL and we’re on track to secure 286GL.

“A healthy Murray- Darling Basin is vital to the communities, industry and environment that rely on it. That’s why we’ve worked together with Basin states and communities to rescue the plan and deliver much-needed water.

“I said from day one that I was determined to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full, including the 450GL of water for the environment. That’s what we’re doing – and that’s what’s at risk at the next election.”

SA Senator Don Farrell said “the Albanese Government is delivering over 100 times more additional environmental water in three years, than the Liberals and Nationals delivered in a decade”.

“The Mighty Murray is the lifeblood of our great state, and only Labor will deliver for the river,” Mr Farrell said. 

This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 12 March 2025.