Revised basin plan heading to Senate

Amendments to the Murray darling basin plan which could see water buy backs return have passed the lower house.

This will now face the senate, which if passed would see a new deadline for water recovery of December 2027. This was originally set for June 2024.

While water buybacks have been opposed by some, who say it will drive up the price of water and lead to higher prices for produce.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says “Water purchase is never the only tool in the box, it’s not the first tool at hand, but it has to be one of them.”