The Senate today passed more important, common-sense Green amendments to the Water Bill, enabling better management of water in the Murray Darling Basin, said Australian Greens spokesperson on water, Senator Rachel Siewert.

These included:

• A joint Greens-Coalition motion passed late last night to exclude additional new extraction of water for uses outside the basin (such as the Sugarloaf Pipeline)
• Progressively weaning other populations outside of the Basin off their current reliance on its limited flows 
• Giving the Murray Darling Basin Authority more independence from Ministerial direction or political interference
• Giving the Authority the ability to employ more than one full time member (for instance, allowing for a full-time chair to help with its enormous workload)
• Investigating and preventing the impact of long-wall mining activities on groundwater flows, such as the problem in the Liverpool Plains

"The Greens believe that limited water resources within the Murray-Darling Basin need to be retained within the Basin. We do not support any new extractions outside the Basin and believe that we need to progressively wean outsider users off the system," said Senator Siewert.

"Victoria's investments in irrigation efficiency to 'save' water for the Sugarloaf Pipeline is modernisation activity that should be undertaking anyway to address over-allocation. The solution to Melbourne's perceived water problems lie in Melbourne, not in the Murray Darling Basin."

"There is only a limited amount that can be recovered this way and all of it is urgently needed to help basin communities and threatened ecosystems deal with the impacts of climate change. Basin communities are hurting, and precious ecosystems are literally dying for a drink."

"The Greens' amendments are working to ensure the future of Australia's water is properly managed and planned effectively," she concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418 401 180