SA politicians demand full delivery of Murray-Darling Basin Plan
Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan joined a cross-party gathering alongside conservation advocates backing water purchases, despite the Coalition's opposition to buybacks.
South Australian federal politicians gathered in Canberra on 13 October to press for full implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, including its water recovery targets, as the federal government considers how to address a 265-gigalitre shortfall.
The gathering brought together representatives from Labor, the Liberals and the Greens, along with an independent. Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan argued that South Australia had contributed its share and accused NSW and Victoria of failing communities that depend on the river.
The Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance also attended, arguing that purchasing water offered the most efficient and cost-effective option for closing the gap. That position conflicts with Coalition policy, which calls for water buybacks to end.
A recent Murray-Darling Basin Authority report identified the shortfall after state-managed water-saving projects failed to deliver. Those projects were intended to avert additional buybacks. Federal water and agriculture minister Murray Watt is considering how to recover the missing water.
The River Murray supplies water to 2.4 million people in four states. Adelaide accounts for more than 1 million of those users. Riverland resident Neil Burton said communities needed other states to meet their commitments and urged national support for the river system.
A review of the Basin Plan is scheduled to finish later in 2026.
