Row over Murray Darling Basin plan timing

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is facing a legislative clash in the Senate over her move to extend the Murray Darling Basin Plan past its 2024 deadline.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is facing a legislative clash in the Senate over her move to extend the Murray Darling Basin Plan past its 2024 deadline. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Beach

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is facing a legislative clash in the Senate over her move to extend the Murray-Darling Basin Plan past its 2024 deadline, with the Coalition refusing to support attempts to recover 450 gigalitres of environmental water through buybacks.

The opposition’s rejection of the move may force Labor to deal with the Greens in the upper house. But the Greens say any push to delay the plan is a broken election promise, insisting the government restart buybacks ­immediately.

The backlash comes after Ms Plibersek revealed she was seeking advice from Murray-Darling Basin Authority chair Angus Houston on whether the plan would be delivered on time, marking the first step needed to delay the legislated agreement.

The Australian understands Labor will seek to amend the basin plan to formally legislate 450GL of environmental water it has committed to deliver in order to override a restriction under the Water Act currently preventing the government from using controversial buybacks to recover the water.

Opposition water spokeswoman Perin Davey told The Australian the Coalition would not support any plans to allow buybacks. amid concern they hurt basin communities.

The Nationals partyroom is formally opposed to the use of buybacks and attempts to deliver 450GL of environmental water.

“If the 450 can’t be delivered in the way Tony Burke envisaged, then it should not be delivered. I believe he wrote the plan that way because he listened to the communities and I ask the current minister to do the same,” Senator Davey said.

“I will not, however, consider plans to prioritise or allow increased buybacks that hurt basin communities and have flow-on impacts that will cost every Australian in the long run.”

Ahead of Labor’s overhauled environment laws, which are set to be released in coming months, the government is also facing backlash from the Greens over its attempt to establish a scheme to incentivise investment in nature-restoration projects.

Ms Plibersek last week conceded Labor’s controversial nature repair bill would be delayed for a month following criticism from the Greens, the opposition and conservation advocates.

Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said buybacks must be restarted to secure the environmental water, and that the government must “stop passing the buck and start taking responsibility for protecting our river”.

“A delay on the 450GL is a broken election promise to every South Australian and risks breaking our river Murray,” said Senator Hanson-Young, a South Australian.

“This water must be delivered before the next election – South Australians are sick of excuses.”

Ms Plibersek said Labor was committed to delivering the basin plan in full, and she would not back down from her commitment. “The reality is the plan was sabotaged by the Liberals and Nationals,” she told The Australian, adding: “More than 80 per cent of the water contracted under the Plan has been done under Labor governments.”