Farrer MP Sussan Ley has slammed the Albanese Government after it announced plans to nearly double the amount of water it will remove from the southern Murray Darling Basin, using water buybacks. 

During a speech in Adelaide, Federal Water Minister Murray Watt confirmed his intention to step up the over-priced trade strategy from 170 to 300 gigalitres (GL), a 76% jump.  

“When Labor first announced this policy last year, I described it as lazy, uncaring and taking enormous amounts of water for the environment, away from farming. 

“22 months and a new Minister later, Labor is out of ideas, remaining content to divide up our farming communities, add to the nation’s debt level and put the skids on Australian produce. 

“The 2023 deal between Labor and the Greens for an additional 450 GL environmental water allocation was supposed to be spread across a range of initiatives, including infrastructure projects, changes to water management, as well as state run partnerships. 

“Minister Watt has not only doubled down on this buybacks plan, he won’t even take responsibility for it, indicating it was an idea from his Department. And all this before they even consider balancing out water recovery in the north of Basin. 

“This rushed decision seems only to appease The Greens in return for their support on the controversial Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EBPC) reforms. 

“Whether its water policy, the renewable energy rollout, cuts to local councils, pulling back on road repairs and regional development, the Albanese Government continues to fail the people of rural Australia.”