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ACF urges Coalition to back much-needed Murray-Darling reform
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has urged the Coalition not to undermine the importance of delivering a timely Basin Plan to return the Murray-Darling to good health.
“The Murray-Darling continues to be in crisis and we urgently need a scientifically robust Basin Plan which will stop environmental degradation and secure Basin communities and the economy into the future,” said Ruchira Talukdar, ACF Healthy Ecosystems campaigner.
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has indicated support for the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF) call to delay the Murray-Darling Basin Plan process.
“Calling for more dams and the delay of the Basin Plan indicates a lack of support for water reform. Dams are part of the problem in the Murray-Darling Basin; dams choke rivers and dry up wetlands and floodplains. More dams will send us backwards rather than fix the Murray-Darling crisis,” Ms Talukdar said.
Despite a new call for delay, the NFF had previously acknowledged that uncertainty was affecting investments and future planning in Basin communities.
“Basin communities depend on a healthy Murray-Darling. The Basin Plan must not be delayed, stymied and used as a political football or the Murray-Darling and its communities will lose out and continue facing uncertainty”.
“The Murray-Darling needs a solution, not more delay and inaction.”
