Original story at ABC News: Murray-Darling water licences to be sold back to farmers after years of environmental buy-backs
The Federal Government has announced plans to sell back water entitlements to farmers along the Murray-Darling river system.
Irrigation in the Murray-Darling basin. The Government says the plan will help irrigators with the hot and dry weather. Photo: Tim Wimborne/Reuters
The Commonwealth currently owns almost 1,700 gigalitres of water in the basin, following several years of environmental buy-backs.
Parliamentary secretary for the environment Simon Birmingham says the sell-off will have important economic benefits while also maintaining environmental flows.
“The core test for the environmental water holder in undertaking these activities is whether it better achieves environmental outcomes, whether it aligns with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which the Coalition is committed to implementing in full and on time,” he said.
“Trading will be limited and will only be a small portion of the overall entitlement held by the environmental water holder.
“But you can get these benefits because not every wetland, not every key asset would naturally receive water in every single year.”
Mr Birmingham says the trade will significantly benefit agricultural production in the region.
“This will be good news for irrigators who will be keen to secure more water during this period of hot and dry weather,” he said.
The Greens’ environment spokeswoman, Lee Rhiannon, says the policy will come at the cost of the environment.
“When you start the sell-offs, particularly when it’s driven by a Coalition government, you’re opening the door to winding back the small achievements that have been made in terms of restoring health to the Murray-Darling basin,” she said.
The Federal Government will release details of the first tender process later today.
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