Federal Water and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek commits to Murray Darling Basin Plan in first speech

Australia’s new Water and Environment Minister has confirmed the Federal Government’s intentions with the Murray Darling Basin.

Tanya Plibersek has used her first speech as Water and Environment Minister to commit to delivering 450GL of water per year to the environment under the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

“When it comes to sustainable water management and water security, national leadership is needed now more than ever,” Ms Plibersek said in a prerecorded speech to the Murray Darling Basin Authority annual conference today.

“The Murray Darling Basin Plan was agreed to by all states and jurisdictions a decade ago,” she said.

“The job remains unfinished and communities frustrated by a lack of progress.

“Our five point plan is a reset. We’ll work with basin governments and stakeholders to put the plan in place as was agreed.

“We’ll increase compliance across the basin and improve metering and monitoring. We’ll restore integrity and confidence by working with stakeholders to reform water markets and make river modelling available where we can.

Australia’s new Water and Environment Minister has detailed the Federal Government’s intentions with the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

“We’ll increase First Nations’ role in water ownership and management, and participation in decision making.”

Murray Darling Basin Authority chair Sir Angus Houston told the conference delivering on the Basin Plan meant completing “the constraints relaxation projects, known as SDLAM, the 450GL in additional water efficiency measures (and) for NSW, delivering water resource plans that make the grade”.

“Strong and practical political leadership is needed,” Sir Houston said.

“If Basin governments cannot work together and progress the most pressing issues with the Plan’s implementation, how will the nation face these new and urgent challenges?

“A step change in state engagement is needed.

“Now is the time to put the shoulder to the wheel and make good on the commitments made 10 years ago so we are all in the best position possible to enjoy what the Basin has to offer now and into the future.”

Inspector-general of water compliance Troy Grant slammed the NSW Government for delays producing 20 Water Resource Plans, and said if plans were not submitted by June 30, the Commonwealth should step in.