The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has welcomed comments by Water Minister Tony Burke clarifying the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) powers.
Mr Burke has released legal advice he received that socio-economic considerations as well as environmental issues are central to the Water Act.
“It’s clear from this advice that environmental, economic and social considerations are central to the Water Act and that the Basin plan can appropriately take these into account,” Mr Burke told Parliament.
“I do not offer the advice as a criticism of the MDBA. What is important now is how the MDBA responds to this advice.”
Arlene Harriss-Buchan from the ACF says that clarification may help to remove some of the hysteria surrounding the water allocation plan for the Murray-Darling Basin.
“We are just looking forward to now getting on with the job without the distractions of saying ‘It doesn’t consider this and it doesn’t consider that’, working out what the best Basin plan is and putting our rivers and wetlands on the pathway to health,” she said.
The Basin Authority held a briefing in Adelaide on Monday and will host its third South Australian public information session at the Murray Bridge Town Hall on Tuesday.
