Calls for Murray-Darling reform support

(AAP) - Labor has called for coalition support for laws that will herald in an new era of cooperation between governments aimed at saving the Murray-Darling Basin.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett on Thursday introduced a bill that seeks
to implement an agreement reached between the commonwealth and state and territory
governments aimed at rescuing Australia's greatest river system.
The legislation would give effect to an agreement signed by Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd and the premiers of NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, and the ACT
chief minister, at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in July this
year.
It gives the commonwealth overriding responsibility for the ailing waterway, while
the states would continue to manage water within their catchments and retain an
advisory role on other matters.
"This is much needed, long overdue reform in governance that will put the
Murray-Darling Basin on the right footing to face the challenges that lie ahead," Mr
Garrett said.
NSW has already passed laws that refer its powers to the commonwealth, while
Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT will also pass complementary
legislation.
The legislation will implement reforms that include transferring the powers of the
Murray-Darling Basin Commission to the recently created Murray-Darling Basin
Authority.
The authority will prepare a basin plan that will set diversion limits on surface
and groundwater to ensure the rivers' long-term health and safeguard the needs of
the communities that rely on them.
The authority would have enforcement powers.
Water Minister Penny Wong appealed to opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull to
encourage coalition MPs and senators to support the laws, saying a cooperative plan
for the river system was something he failed to achieve as water minister under the
former Howard government.
"This was legislation that Mr Turnbull was unable to achieve when water minister
because he could not get the agreement of the states," Senator Wong said.
"The question now is, will he get the agreement of his front bench colleagues?
"We know that the opposition are completely divided on this issue. We know that they
say one thing down in South Australia and another thing upstream.
"But in the national interest, Mr Turnbull should ensure that this bill is supported
by the opposition through the house and the Senate."
The new laws also give the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission a key role
in monitoring and enforcing compliance with water charge and market rules.
They also seek to ensure the critical human needs of the more than one million
people that rely on the river for their drinking water can be met.
The Greens have vowed to refer the bill to a Senate committee, arguing that it was
essential the new Murray-Darling Basin Authority was given the power it needs to
deliver effective whole-of-basin governance.
"We acknowledge that we need to act on this quickly, but more than anything we need
to make sure we get this right," Senator Rachel Siewert said.