United SA front to stare down Nationals’ water threat to Murray-Darling Basin Plan

In a rare show of unity, South Australian senators and MPs are vowing to jointly defy any push by the National Party to “blow up” the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

In a rare show of unity, South Australian senators and MPs are vowing to jointly defy any push by the National Party to “blow up” the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Seven South Australian MPs and Senators from across the political divide gave a joint press conference in Parliament House on Wednesday to condemn a move by National senators to drastically change the plan by scrapping a requirement to recover 450GL of water for the health of the river.

Scott Morrison is facing calls to strip the Nationals of the water portfolio after the “stunt” in a ministerial reshuffle triggered by the Nationals leadership spill, which saw Barnaby Joyce return as Deputy Prime Minister.

“We need the prime minister to show leadership, to say the plan will be delivered in full and on time, and we need to wrestle the portfolio of water out of the Nationals hands,” Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie said.

“They can’t be trusted with this.”

Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan, Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie, Independent senator Rex Patrick, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Labor senator Don Farrell, Labor senator Marielle Smith, Liberal MP James Stevens. Picture: Claire Bickers

I have just addressed the parliament on my complete opposition to any attempts to undermine the Murray Darling Basin Plan currently before the Senate. pic.twitter.com/52Af42mILW

— James Stevens MP (@James_Stevens) June 23, 2021

Independent SA Senator Rex Patrick threatened to use his sway as a crucial crossbench senator to if the Nationals’ push was successful.

“I will block every minister’s number if the government support these amendments,” he said. “They will have to play Russian roulette on how I might vote on any bill they put through the Senate. They better not support this.”

Senator Patrick backed calls to strip the water portfolio off the Nationals.

“It can’t possibly work where you’ve got the government saying one thing but handing control to the party that is saying the opposite. That has to be dealt with and it has to be dealt with immediately,” he said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the National Party was “drunk with power” after Mr Joyce’s return, and the Coalition would pay the price in South Australia.

“It’s time for SA to muscle up against this disgraceful attack being launched by the deputy Prime Minister and his cronies in the senate,” she said.

Senator Hanson-Young said Premier Steven Marshall “needs to get on the phone and demand that Scott Morrison do the right thing” and boot the Nationals out of the water portfolio.

Labor senators Don Farrell and Marielle Smith called on senior Liberal cabinet ministers Anne Ruston and Simon Birmingham to stand up for SA after they missed the joint press conference.

“They ought to be joining with the rest of the South Australians in the Senate to say enough is enough,” Senator Farrell said.

“We’re not going to allow the Nationals to destroy the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.”

Liberal Senator Andrew McLachlan and Liberal Member for Sturt James Stevens also joined the joint push but stopped short of calling for Mr Morrison to appoint a Liberal in the water portfolio.

“The ministry is the gift of the prime minister so that would be a question for the prime minister,” Senator McLachlan said when asked if the Nationals should retain the responsibility. “All we want is the 450GL for the environment and the Murray mouth. The River Murray is a unifying force for all South Australians. I have lived my life fighting for the Murray and it’s not going to stop today.”

Mr Stevens said: “Government policy is to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on time and in full. I’m in line with Government policy.”

He said the Nationals amendments had never been raised in the Liberal or Coalition partyrooms.

“Any current or future minister is and should continue to be supportive of the plan,” he said.

Every member of SA’s federal Liberal team, including cabinet ministers Simon Birmingham and Anne Ruston, then signed a letter to Mr Morrison on Wednesday that reiterated their strong support for the Basin Plan being delivered “in full and on time”.

South Australian liberals have written a joint letter to Scott Morrison on their support for the Basin Plan being delivered ‘in full and on time’. Very clear signal after today’s push by the Nats @theTiserpic.twitter.com/04cExRL3XG

— Claire Bickers (@claire_bickers) June 23, 2021

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, leader of the government in the Senate and a cabinet minister, confirmed in Question Time the Government would be voting against the National Party’s proposed amendments to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

“We are proud as a government to have ensured that billions and billions, thousands of billions of litres of additional water entitlement have been secured to support environmental flows across the Murray-Darling Basin,” Senator Birmingham said.

“The government stands resolute in its support for the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, as we have said, in full and on time.”