Independent Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has asked whether it’s time to give up on the failed Murray Darling Basin Plan and start again.

In the final week of federal parliament before the winter break Ms Sharkie questioned Minister for Environment and Water Tania Plibersek about future of the river.

“It’s now recognised that supply projects will only return a maximum of 425 of 605 GL, and efficiency projects will only return a maximum of 50 of 450 GL by the Plan’s statutory deadline.

“Will the Government negotiate a Murray Darling Basin Plan 2.0 to protect our river and the environment?”

The Minister advised the House that she is working with the Murray Darling Basin state Ministers and is hopeful of a resolution that delivers the Murray Darling Basin Plan in full.

Ms Sharkie says she will intensively scrutinise the return of water to the system under the Plan, noting it is now unlikely that the statutory goal will be achieved.  

She says version two of the Plan will be essential if the Minister is unable to secure the water with her state counterparts.  

“Hope is nice but we need more than that.

“It will be unacceptable, and a lost opportunity, if in twelve months’ time we find ourselves in a position where the water has not been returned pursuant to the Plan’s commitments and we don’t have a plan B.” 

“Returning water to the system is non-negotiable.”

Ms Sharkie says if this cannot be achieved before the statutory deadline next year, which appears likely, we need to start planning now.

"The current Plan took a decade to negotiate, the environment cannot wait another ten years.”