The recommitment to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has been condemned by irrigators, but the decision from the Federal Government for additional water buybacks is out of the NSW Government’s hands.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek announced action on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan last week, which includes the recovery of 450GL of water for the environment by 31 December 2026. 

NSW Irrigators Council (NSWIC) acting CEO Christine Freak said that the uncertainty of more buybacks is a major cause for concern. 

“Buying back the NSW share of an additional 450GL of water will remove the equivalent of nearly half of the remaining high-security water that’s left for farming in the NSW Southern Basin,” Ms Freak said. 

Having signed up to the Federal deal, the NSW Government has little power over any buyback decision, despite several calls to action. 

The NSWIC has urged the NSW Government to seek legal advice on their options to avoid further buybacks, or to support a bill to put socio-economic protections from water buybacks in state legislation. 

“Buybacks have already had well-documented severe impacts on Basin communities,” Ms Freak said. 

“Additional buybacks are just not required now Sustainable Diversion Limits are in place,” she said. 

Under the new agreement for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, states will have more time, options, and funding to deliver the remaining water.

Ms Plibersek said that the plan is important for the health of the environment. 

“Australia is facing an environmental emergency. The Murray-Darling pumps life into the heartland of our country.”

“If we don’t act now to preserve it, our Basin towns will be unprepared for drought, our native animals will face the threat of extinction, our river ecosystems will risk environmental collapse, and our food and fibre production will be insecure and unsustainable,” she said. 

The Productivity Commission is conducting a review into the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, with a final report to be handed down in late 2023.