Voices are rising over the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill, that would allow 450 GL of water to be purchased for the environment. While it’s a general consensus the bill doesn’t go far enough, the battle continues between which way it should go. 

Interest groups from all corners are speaking up at hearings for the Inquiry into the bill, which seeks to amend the Water Act 2007 and Basin Plan, before it is implemented in full. 

While those in the conservation camp are adamant that the Bill requires strengthening to ensure that water is returned, the NSW Irrigators’ Council insists that the Basin Plan needs further assessment - and delay - before the 450 GL is pursued, hoping to negate the need for mandatory buybacks. 

Following the release of a Productivity Commission report into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, both camps seemed to extract different lessons. 

“The Productivity Commission has clearly stated that purchasing water is by far the quickest and most effective way to obtain environmental water entitlements,” Environment Victoria CEO said. 

Meanwhile, CEO of the NSW Irrigators’ Council Claire Miller extracted from the Commission's report that pursuing 450 GL would be hasty when other recovery targets have not been met, and with a Basin Plan review due in 2026. 

“While the Government is spinning the Productivity Commission review to justify open slather on buybacks for the 450 GL, the Commission is clear that the focus must be on Bridging the Gap first,” Claire said. 

The merits of both arguments have been raised in hearings this week.

Much of the attention around the debate has stemmed from concern around compulsory water buybacks, which has become a foundation of the recent campaign to ‘Keep Farmers Farming’, launched by the National Farmers’ Federation.

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek revealed that when voluntary purchases of water by the Government was on the table, the take up was popular. 

In an open tender to purchase water across the basin earlier this year, tenders were received to sell more than double the amount of water than called for.

“What this shows is that there are many willing sellers who are prepared to work with the Government to make sure we have enough water to deliver a healthy and sustainable river system,” Minister Plibersek said. 

As part of that tender, offers in the Barwon Darling, NSW Border Rivers, Namoi, Lachlan and NSW Murray catchments were accepted. 

“As we look to how we make sure we deliver the 450 GL of water for the environment, which we know will have to include some voluntary purchases, this is an encouraging sign.”

In the hearing, it was acknowledged that the delivery of the 450 GL would be a difficult feat without support from the involved states: New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 

Victoria is the only state not to support the Commonwealth taking over management of the Murray-Darling.