Federal government wants three more years to deliver 450GL water savings

It is expected Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will ask for another three years to deliver the long-promised, but not delivered, extra water to the River Murray.

South Australia may have to wait another three years before receiving the extra 450GL in environmental flows for the River Murray promised more than a decade ago, with Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek expected to make the announcement next week.

Under the Murray Darling Basin Plan approved in 2012, an extra 450GL in environmental flows was to be added to the Murray by June 30, 2024.

It is now expected that time frame will be extended to 2027, even though now-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came to SA when still opposition leader to declare “it is so important for South Australia that we deliver on the 450 gigalitres, and that is precisely what federal Labor will do’’.

Ms Plibersek has previously foreshadowed more time would be required but declined to confirm on Friday that an extra three years would be required.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek in Hobart in relation to the spotted handfish. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We’re committed to delivering the plan in full, including the additional 450GL of water for the environment. I’ve said that from day one and I won’t budge,’’ Ms Plibersek said.

Ms Plibersek will receive a report from Murray Darling Basin Commissioner Angus Houston on Monday detailing how likely it was that water targets could be met. She said it would provide an “honest assessment’’ of the plan’s progress.

“After a decade of delay and sabotage by the Liberals and Nationals, it’s clear the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is off track,’’ she said,

Earlier this month, Ms Plibersek said only 26GL of the promised 450GL had been delivered.

South Australian deputy premier Susan Close declined to directly comment on the expected three-year delay

“We await the MDBA’s report before we engage in further discussions about both timing and mechanisms for delivery – particularly of the 450GL,’’ she said.

A coalition of national environmental groups, including Conservation SA, has written to Dr Close expressing concerns about potential delays.

“Further delays should be absolutely minimised and avoided where possible,’’ the letter says. “Any delay that is considered unavoidable must be justified in parliament, together with

an outline of the measures that will be taken to reduce the risk of short-term

environmental harm.’’

SA’s Commissioner for the Murray River Richard Beasley SC said the state government should only sign up to changes if there was certainty the 450GL would finally be delivered, including “that the commonwealth take immediate steps (including any legislative steps) to recover the further 450GL of environmental water for the Southern Murray’’.

Mr Beasley said the recovery of the water should mainly be done through voluntary purchases by the federal government.

He also said the state government should insist on the federal government holding an “independent scientific inquiry’' into integrity of the 605GL in “sustainable diversion limits’’ which means that water no longer has to be saved.

“There is no independent report, or peer reviewed article that supports this precise volume,’’ Mr Beasley said.