Basin kowtow: Littleproud sides with SA on blocking review into Plan’s 3200GL target

The votes of three South Australian senators matter more to Water Minister David Littleproud than basin irrigators, argues The Weekly Times.

Controversial statements: Federal Water Minister David Littleproud declared the Murray Darling Basin Plan delivers greater certainty and security to rice and dairy farmers.

WHAT is Federal Water Minister David Littleproud doing?

First he declares the Murray Darling Basin Plan, which has stripped a quarter of the water from irrigation communities for the environment, delivers greater certainty and security to rice and dairy farmers.

Then he backs South Australian Water Minister David Speirs in blocking a push from NSW and Victoria for an independent review of the model that underpins recovering 3200 gigalitres to push peak flows of 80GL a day across the SA border.

NSW and Victorian Water Ministers know the relaxed constraints model is flawed, given so much has changed since it was drafted by the MDBA in 2012. But Mr Littleproud refuses to budge, charging on regardless with the Federal Government’s
$1.5 billion push to drain another 450GL out of basin communities to reach the plan’s 3200GL goal.

Never mind that this massive volume can never be used, because of constraints on its delivery. Odd behaviour from the Nationals’ Maranoa MP, whose electorate covers the headwaters of the northern Basin. Mr Littleproud must be aware the Nationals are on the nose in NSW and Northern Victoria, where they’re often seen to kowtow to the Liberals.

So, why is Mr Littleproud suddenly so loyal to South Australia? The answer lies in the Senate, where the Federal Coalition needs three crossbench votes to pass its legislation — South Australian Centre Alliance Senators Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff, plus independent Cory Bernardi.

The risk is that as he kowtows to SA’s Country Alliance senators, the political tide will turn and he’ll be left stranded on the empty shores of that state’s Lower Lakes.