In response to the NSW Government threatening to pull out of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, South Australian political party Centre Alliance is calling on the Federal Government to, as an initial step, cease all basin plan payments to NSW immediately and to commence water buybacks in NSW starting in 2020.
The party, formerly known as the Nick Xenophon Team, said further sanctions might also be necessary if the NSW Government failed to recommit to the plan in full.
“NSW cannot enjoy the benefits of the plan during the good times and then stop complying with the plan when the going gets tough,” Centre Alliance environmental spokesperson Rex Patrick said.
“All states must work together.
“The Federal Government must use as much coercive power as necessary to force NSW to meet the commitments it has agreed to.”
