Federal Water Minister Barnaby Joyce asks Premier Jay Weatherill not to walk away from river talks after Ian Hunter tirade

THE fight to save the River Murray from a slow death is being furiously relaunched as a chorus of scientists and political leaders warn desperately needed extra water is at risk.

• Jay Weatherill says River Murray is again at risk of a slow death
• SA Water Minister Ian Hunter in foul-mouthed tirade at fellow MPs

THE fight to save the River Murray from a slow death is being furiously relaunched as a chorus of scientists and political leaders warn desperately needed extra water is at risk.

Premier Jay Weatherill on Saturday spearheaded attacks on Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, accusing him of walking away from a deal to restore 3200 gigalitres to the river by 2024.

Scientists warned reduced flows could close the Murray Mouth, requiring dredging, and damage wetlands, birdlife and the river ecosystem.

Enjoying a day on the Murray were Milli Livingston with mum Liz and Arthur Hodgson on Arthur's boat Lotus at the All Steamed Up festival at Mannum. Picture: Calum Robertson

In a bid to defuse calls for state Water Minister Ian Hunter’s sacking after his abusive tirade aimed at Mr Joyce at a city restaurant on Thursday night, the Premier declared he shared his anger.

“It’s not just minister Hunter who’s angry about this matter, every South Australian should be angry at the breach of trust that exists through them walking away from this Murray Darling Basin agreement,” Mr Weatherill said.

But Mr Joyce issued a veiled attack on Mr Hunter, demanding Mr Weatherill tackle problems closer to home and ensure SA has a representative at the table for river talks.

“When confronted with a problem, we can’t all launch into an expletive-laden rant at patrons in a restaurant then huff off down the street eating ice cream (as Mr Hunter is accused of doing),” the Acting Prime Minister said in a statement to the Sunday Mail.

Adelaide University Associate Professor David Paton said the 3200GL was already a compromised figure and the Murray actually needed more than double that to flourish.

State Water Minister Ian Hunter.

Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

But Mr Weatherill released a letter written on Thursday to Mr Hunter from Mr Joyce, in which he says he cannot foresee interstate water ministers agreeing that the final 450GL of water can be delivered by 2024 without significant social and economic detriment.

Mr Weatherill deflected questions about Mr Hunter’s tirade by saying the Minister had not been disciplined as no complaint had been made to him, but said he expected him to behave appropriately and assert SA’s interests.

Mr Joyce said upstream states were saying restoring another 450,000 megalitres, slightly more than the volume of Sydney Harbour, would cause “social and economic detriment” — a barrier to delivery under the basin agreement.

“I also suspect it will cause massive social and economic detriment in parts of SA which has to contribute 36,000 megalitres from that state’s irrigation towns,” he said.

“If Mr Weatherill wants to spell out which towns he is proposing to take further water back from, then he will understand the problems other premiers will have in other states.”