Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond is calling on Mike Rann to secure some of the recent Queensland floodwaters – at least 100 gigalitres – so South Australia can see significant environmental flows and significant increases in irrigators’ allocations.

 

Recent floods in Queensland are highlighting again the complete failure of Mike Rann and Karlene Maywald’s much touted ‘historic’ national water agreement.

 

With billions of litres of water set to run into the Darling River over the coming weeks South Australia is still at the mercy of arrangements that favour upstream Basin states.

 

Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond said the January floods earlier this year had exposed Mike Rann and Karlene Maywald’s agreement as a sham and nothing had changed three months later.

 

“The state’s irrigators and the Lower Lakes still remain at the mercy of upstream states,” Ms Redmond said.

 

“If Mike Rann’s negotiation skills are as good as he would have us believe then securing 100 gigalitres of the recent floodwaters should be simple.

 

“Massive volumes of water are entering the Darling River system yet we literally rely on the goodwill of other Basin states to release some of the water.  

 

“If the rest of the Menindee Lakes system is filled with the current floodwaters before substantial flows are released downstream, South Australians will know that they have been shafted by a Premier and Water Security Minister who claim to be fighting for irrigators and the environment.

 

“Nothing has changed in spite of Mike Rann and Karlene Maywald’s ‘historic’ agreement.

 

“Once again the South Australian environment and the state’s irrigators will continue to suffer whilst water is hoarded upstream.

 

“South Australians should feel aggrieved and angry with Mike Rann and Karlene Maywald over their claims that they secured a national water deal.”