ACT government accused of ‘rank hypocrisy’ on basin plan

The ACT has failed to return any environmental water under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, despite Water Minister Shane Rattenbury suggesting basin governments had failed to make progress.

ACT Water Minister Shane Rattenbury. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

The ACT has failed to return any environmental water as legally ­required under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, despite Water Minister Shane Rattenbury ­accusing basin governments of failing to make any progress towards the agreement.

According to figures from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the territory has not recovered any of its 4.9 gigalitres of environmental water as required as a signatory to the basin plan.

ACT Water Minister Shane Rattenbury last week labelled basin governments’ failure to deliver the plan as “deeply frustrating and disappointing”, as he welcomed a boost to transparency.

“The lack of meaningful ­progress over the past decade has been deeply frustrating and ­disappointing, especially for those living alongside the river and for First Nations peoples with an ­ongoing connection to these lands and waters,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“I strongly believe there must be increasing accountability and transparency as the plan is implemented, through enhanced auditing, reporting and independent oversight.

“I will continue to advocate for greater accountability as the plan is implemented, and as the ­upcoming review of the plan progresses, and for the delivery of cultural flows and greater participation of First Nations peoples in river management and decision making.”

It comes after Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek struck a new deal with NSW, South Australia, Queensland and the ACT to deliver on Labor’s election promise to recover 450 gigalitres for the environment.

Victoria refused to sign up to the Albanese government’s reformed Murray Darling Basin Plan, with the state vehemently opposed to Labor’s plan to use buybacks as a method of water recovery.

Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey accused Mr Rattenbury of “rank hypocrisy”, arguing the ACT government had received $85m under the basin plan but “failed to deliver a single drop of water” in more than 13 years.

It comes after the commonwealth provided up to $85m to the ACT to conduct projects to improve water quality in the jurisdiction.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

“Given the ACT is yet to deliver a single litre against their required basin plan water recovery target of 4.9GL I wonder if ACT Water Minister Shane Rattenbury sees the rank hypocrisy of his comments,” Senator Davey said.

“It speaks volumes that in the Greens and Labor electorates in the basin, the Labor Party refuses to ensure these electorates do not have to do any heavy lifting for the environment.

“It’s a disgrace that where the basin’s head office bureaucrats live, they have done nothing for the basin’s environment.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Rattenbury said the ACT government remained committed to delivering on its commitments under the basin plan.

She said the jurisdiction continued to work alongside the commonwealth to recover the environmental water. The spokeswoman said the government was in ongoing discussions with the commonwealth to finalise funding it will receive for the implementation of water recovery projects.

“The government continues to work with the Australian government to finalise the ACT’s recovery of water for the environment. The water recovery target must be completed by 30 June 2024,” the spokeswoman said.

Ms Plibersek declined to comment.