David Littleproud: Plan deadline can be extended if needed

Buybacks are a definite no-go zone for the Coalition, with a senior MP sending a strong signal the Basin Plan deadline could be extended.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has reignited the water wars by declaring an extension to the 2024 deadline for implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan was a possibility.

Mr Littleproud said it was up to the states to complete necessary infrastructure works to allow for delivery of remaining water to the environment rather than the need for buybacks so farmers can “be left alone to get on with the job that they do”.

Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese recently announced a “five point plan” to ensure the recovery of an extra 450 gigalitres for environmental flows by 2024 by not ruling out buybacks.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud. Picture: Julianne Osborne

In an interview with Sky News today, Mr Littleproud said about a deadline extension: “If we have to, we should.

“But we shouldn’t go back to buybacks because it destroys people’s livelihoods, not just farmers, but it destroys local communities.

“And in fact, we have this extra 450 gigalitres that the Labor Party put in. It’s dead.

“We have a neutrality test between all the states and they know they can’t change it, but they’re politicising this saying we’re going to go back to the 450 and get buybacks. They can’t.

“The states all have to agree and the states won’t agree.

“The states are responsible for building these infrastructure projects and they’ve made it clear from some time ago that they will need more time to build this infrastructure.”

Opposition water spokeswoman Terri Butler was contacted for comment, but The Weekly Times was referred back to comments she made on April 8.

“We do not have a policy of compulsory acquisition of water,” she said.

“But I want to make very clear that we are not ruling out any tools to uphold the Murray Darling Basin Plan.”

National Irrigators Council chief executive Isaac Jeffrey.

National Irrigators Council chief executive Isaac Jeffrey called for calm and asked both major parties not to restart the water wars.

“Water is too important to become a political football,” he said.

“As we face a hotter and drier climate with more extreme weather events into the future, we need a bipartisan approach which is focused on outcomes across the whole system for food and fibre producers, the environment and communities.

“The basin is a connected system and the plan delivers outcomes for all states.

“The 450GL efficiency measures are not solely to deliver more water for South Australia, but to achieve outcomes across the whole system.

“There is still time to get on and complete more projects under the 450, but they must stay true to the promise of the plan to deliver neutral or positive socio-economic benefits to local communities.”