2018-06-18
The Australian Greens will move an amendment to the Water Amendment Bill 2018, listed on the Senate schedule for today, to include the delivery of the 450GL promised to South Australia.
“The only way to ensure the River system has a chance of survival is to make sure the extra 450GL to South Australia is delivered. The Government has gotten its way on ripping billions of litres of water out of the River system, and has turned a blind eye to rorting, water theft and corruption by greedy corporate irrigators. It’s time they started putting back,” Greens Murray Darling Basin spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“We know there has been corruption, water theft, and for those of us at the bottom end of the river, we know that the environment is not getting the water it needs. If South Australians are to have any faith that the 450GL will be delivered, it must be in law.
“Putting it in the Water Act means upstream states and the Turnbull Government cannot wriggle out of the commitment to return the water to the environment. It would be law and therefore must be given back to SA.
“Failing to legislate the delivery of 450GL back when the Basin Plan was agreed to was an act of betrayal to South Australia. Scientists warned the River would need at least 4000GL to survive. Labor and Liberal Governments ignored the advice of scientists and now the River is dying.
“If South Australian senators are serious about standing up for their state, and seeing the river survive, they should support the Greens’ amendment.”
Media contact: Amy Moran 0427 604 760