MEDIA RELEASE: MORRISON’S DROUGHT ENVOY CALLING FOR WATER TO BE STRIPPED AWAY FROM THE ENVIRONMENT

TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
 
MORRISON’S DROUGHT ENVOY CALLING FOR WATER TO BE STRIPPED AWAY FROM THE ENVIRONMENT
 

Reports today that the Prime Minister’s drought envoy, Barnaby Joyce, wants to take water away from the environment shows he doesn’t understand water policy and is willing to let the rivers suffer if it’s in his political interest.
It beggars belief that anyone could look at the fish kills over summer and propose to take water away from the environment.

As Water Minister Barnaby Joyce did his best to destroy the Basin Plan. He wrote to the then South Australian Water Minister to undermine the 450GL of additional water for the environment, even though the water would be recovered from on-farm infrastructure projects. He said the water didn’t “have a hope in hades” of being delivered. He also made bold claims in the pub that he took the water portfolio for the Nationals.

Today he says Adelaide has too much water, all because he thinks National Party seats are more important than seats in Adelaide.

The Basin Plan is about saving the rivers – and not about Mr Joyce’s mates winning seats.

The Plan is there to deliver a healthy working Basin. There are no jobs on a dead river.   

Labor wants to see the Basin Plan delivered in full, including the additional 450GL of water that the environment needs, the Plan allows, and Barnaby Joyce tries to prevent.


TUESDAY, 26 MARCH 2019