New river commissioner says we will not see promised water in the Murray unless cap on buybacks are lifted

The new commissioner for the River Murray says we will die before we see the promised 450GL of water handed back, unless the government comes good on its promise.

An extra 450GL promised to South Australia under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan won’t be delivered in this lifetime unless the federal government lifts the cap on water buybacks, the state’s first Commissioner for the River Murray has declared.

The Advertiser can reveal top silk Richard Beasley SC has been appointed in the newly created role, acting as the state’s figurehead and advocate for the river.

The creation of the office fulfils one of Labor’s major state election promises. But Climate, Environment and Water Minister Susan Close would not confirm whether the state government would act on its other river promise by launching a High Court battle to create a legal mandate ensuring the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is delivered in full by June 2024.

Top silk and author Richard Beasley has been appointed SA’s first River Murray Commissioner.

Mr Beasley said he would lobby the federal government to lift the 1500GL cap on water buybacks to ensure the basin plan’s environmental recovery targets can be met.

“There has to be a legislative change in Canberra,” the Dead in the Water author said.

“You and I and everyone living now will be dead by the time probably even 10 per cent of that 450GL is delivered.

“Absent some miracle in the change of architecture or infrastructure or the way in which we use water … the only way that 450GL is going to come to SA is if the water is purchased.”

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek remains open to lifting the cap on buybacks – a method controversial to many regional communities that involves the federal government purchasing water entitlements from farmers and irrigators.

As a condition of joining the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in 2013, SA was promised 450GL of water would be returned across the river system. It is in addition to the primary 2075GL environmental target, which has largely been met.

Mr Beasley, who was a senior counsel assisting at SA’s Murray-Darling royal commission, will prepare an annual report to be tabled in parliament.

Months before the March state election, Premier Peter Malinauskas vowed to launch action in the High Court “to defend our water rights against the inaction” of eastern states.

Environment and Water Minister Susan Close said the state government was “considering” its “legal position” on the Murray-Darling Basin.

But Dr Close would not confirm whether action would still be taken, given Labor also won the federal election on a platform of delivering the 450GL in full.

“We are working on all strategies to ensure the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is fully delivered including considering our legal position,” Dr Close said.

The Deputy Premier said Mr Beasley SC would be a “much-needed voice for our river communities”.

“Having a commissioner for the River Murray sends a clear message to upstream

states that South Australia is serious about defending its water rights, including the

450 gigalitres promised but not delivered,” she said.

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