Senator Nick Xenophon plays hardball with the Government on Murray Darling Basin flows

THE Federal Government will find its legislation blocked in the Senate unless it delivers in full the water promised to the Murray Darling Basin, Senator Nick Xenophon has pledged.

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NICK Xenophon has threatened to hold up government legislation if it doesn’t act decisively to deliver an extra 450 billion litres to the Murray Darling Basin.

The combative South Australian senator said he and his colleagues Stirling Griff and Skye Kakoschke-Moore had delivered the clear message to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that the full 3200 billion litres must be delivered back to Murray flows.

“We need to sort out this water mess before we sort out any other pieces of legislation the Government is interested in — and I think that sends a pretty clear signal all around,” he said.

“Unless we are satisfied, unless the South Australian Government is satisfied, it puts us in a position where we have to focus on sorting that out before sorting anything else out.”

Senator Xenophon said a meeting with Mr Turnbull had convinced him the full delivery of the plan was a “priority” for the government, but it needed additional safeguards built in to ensure it took place.

He said Mr Turnbull offered him “a lot of reassurance” following Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s “unhelpful letter” to South Australian Water Minister Ian Hunter.

In the letter, Mr Joyce said he saw no way the extra 450 billion litres could be delivered without causing “socio-economic pain” to surrounding communities.

Senator Xenophon said the agreement to deliver the full 3200 billion litres was “rock solid” and needed to be delivered in the spirit it was intended.

Comment is being sought from Mr Turnbull.

The Government needs the support of the three NXT senators to get crucial legislation through the Senate before Parliament rises for the year at the end of next week.

Unless amendments to the controversial backpacker tax are passed, a 32.5 per cent rate will come into force on January 1.

Farmers have warned that the 32.5 per cent rate is too high and is deterring working holidaymakers from coming to Australia for seasonal harvest jobs.

The Government also wants the Senate to approve the Australian Building and Construction Commission Bill next week.