Basin buyout barriers removed: Senate passes Restoring Our Rivers Bill

The Senate has passed the Albanese Government’s Restoring Our Rivers Bill, clearing the way for a federal buyout of up to 700GL out of irrigation communities.

Water Tanya Plibersek and Senator David Van, whose support was crucial to passing the Bill.

The Senate has passed the Restoring our Rivers Bill, removing all barriers to the federal government buying up to 700 gigalitres of water out of irrigation communities, on top of 2100GL already recovered.

Thirty-three Senators voted to pass the bill, with minor amendments.

Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said: “This is one the biggest things any government has done for the environment in a decade.

“I said from day one that I was determined to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full, including the 450GL of water for the environment. That’s what I’ve done.”

But NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO, Claire Miller said: “Farmers, workers, small business owners and local government across the Basin have shouted ‘no’ to even more buybacks, because they know from bitter past experience how buybacks have hollowed out their communities while governments went missing on promised assistance.

“Nothing in this rewrite of the 2012 basin plan gives these communities any reason to believe anything will be any different this time around.

“Cuddly ministerial reassurances and expressions of intent mean nothing when the legislation itself in practice blocks any options other than buybacks in one form or another.”

NIC chair Jeremy Morton said: “During the debate the Government finally recognised that there are socio-economic impacts due to water purchases and the bill amendments, mean they have to now consider this in purchase programs, they could not provide any clarity on the criteria and any actions.”

Independent senator David Van played a key role in backing the bill in the Senate, but his vote was gained for an amendment that did nothing more than request the government lease more water to boost environmental flows, an option that was already available.

Environment groups applauded the passing of the amended Bill, which must now go back to the House of Representatives, where Labor holds the majority, for tick-the-box approval.

Conservation Council of South Australia Chief Executive Craig Wilkins said “as the state at the end of Australia’s greatest river system, South Australia is set to be a big winner from the passing of the Restoring our Rivers Bill.

“For the last decade it’s been incredibly frustrating having to justify and defend the inclusion of the 450 gigalitre component of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.”

Mr Morton said: “There are still unanswered questions around the costs and impacts of this Water Amendment Bill, particularly on Basin communities who have already done their fair share of the Basin Plan heavy lifting.”

Argyle Capital chairman Kim Morison, whose team manages about 250GL of water entitlements for their investors, said “we anticipate the taxpayer expense to acquire that volume of water entitlements within a confined time period will be up to $10 billion”.