Fixing the Basin isnt complicated

IT just takes common sense, Here’s how we do it:

Step 1: Stop water buybacks.

It was once illegal for the Federal Government to buy water from the Murray-Darling Basin if it hurt rural communities. But Labor quietly scrapped this law, allowing water buybacks that will destroy our towns and allow the food bowl of Australia to crumble. This must stop.

Step 2: Stop wasting water in South Australia’s Lower Lakes

The entire system is rigged to funnel fresh water into South Australia’s Lower Lakes—fake lakes that were historically estuarine, naturally mixing fresh and saltwater. Instead of draining the basin to keep these lakes artificially fresh, we need to return them to their natural estuarine state.

Step 3: Make South Australia self-sufficient.

South Australia has a desalination plant capable of supplying half the state’s water needs. So why is it barely used? Instead of stealing water from upstream farmers, SA must start making its own water.

Step 4: Accurately count every drop.

Water accounting in the basin is a disaster. We need accurate water meters, real-time monitoring of the northern floodplain harvesting, and real measurements—not estimates of environmental flows. Without transparency, waste will continue.

Step 5: Improve water quality.

The Government obsesses over water volume but ignores water quality. Carp infestations are destroying our rivers, yet we have a virus that could fix the problem—but politicians won’t act. It’s time to fix our water, not just count it.

Step 6: Ban government-induced flooding of private land.

The Federal Government wants to flood private properties to meet its water recovery targets. This reckless plan will devastate farmers and regional communities. It must be stopped.

Step 7: Increase storage capacity.

We need more water storage across the system. That means expanding the capacity of Burrinjuck Dam and utilising existing downstream storage solutions such as Lake Coolah. More storage means better drought protection.

These seven simple steps are what is needed to save the Murray-Darling Basin, not this expensive and harmful Just Add water Policy the Government insists on.

I demand real change to see real results.

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