Federal Coalition and Opposition open to use of desalination plant to boost Murray River health

Plans to use South Australia’s $2.2 billion desalination plant to help boost the health of the Murray Darling Basin has received conditional support from the Federal Coalition and Opposition.

• Yesterday: Desal plant could be used to ease reliance on river
• Premier dismisses Royal Commission’s criticism of water minister

Plans to use South Australia’s $2.2 billion desalination plant to help boost the health of the Murray Darling Basin has received conditional support from the Federal Coalition and Opposition.

The Advertiser yesterday revealed the use of the desalination plant could become a key Federal Election issue, with the State Government waiting on a $2 million report that would determine whether the idea was viable.

When asked if the Coalition would be willing to fund the operation of the desalination plant, Federal Water Minister David Littleproud told The Advertiser: “We will be happy to look at any project which stacks up and will deliver water.”

His sentiments had earlier received support from Federal Opposition water spokesman Tony Burke, who told ABC radio he was also open to the idea.

The Federal Coalition and Opposition have conditionally supported the use of the desalination plant.

“I’m in favour of whatever we can do that ends up restoring the system to health,” he said. “I’d be surprised if using the desalination plant adds up ... but if they want to do more work on it and see whether or not it adds up, then I’ve got no instinctive problem with it.

“What matters is that the rivers get the water that they need and that the system doesn’t break down.”

However, SA Opposition water spokeswoman Susan Close warned the desalination plant was not the answer – a sentiment made clear by the recent royal commission into the Murray Darling Basin.

“Given that we are in a warming climate, we will need the desalination plant for Adelaide in the future,” Dr Close said.

“What happens when we have our next double drought?

“We need to get interstate irrigators to be more water efficient – they must do it.”

The Federal Senate was yesterday dominated by discussion about the Murray Darling Basin.

The Federal Senate was yesterday dominated by discussion about the Murray Darling Basin, after Greens environment spokeswoman and SA senator Sarah Hanson-Young moved to push through a Labor Bill to scrap the 1500 gigalitre cap on water buybacks for farms – a move rejected by the Liberals.

“Water buybacks are the most economically efficient and environmentally effective way to return water and health to the River, as the South Australian royal commissioner and the Productivity Commission have said,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

The move was described by SA Senator Anne Ruston as a political ploy timed to coincide with an upcoming Federal Election.

Senator Ruston said buybacks would hurt farming communities along the Murray River in South Australia.