Independent Senator for South Australia Rex Patrick has called out key players on the Liberal Nationals side of politics as Murray Darling Basin terrorists, keen to blow up the plan.

"Comments by two senior Federal Ministers and the newly minted South Australian Opposition Leader show why the Liberal National Coalition can't be trusted on delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan," Senator Patrick says. 

"The Nationals in Prime Minister Morrison's Government are nothing more than water policy terrorists, prepared to blow up the Plan to advance the interests of their big irrigator supporters in Queensland and New South Wales. South Australian voters should be aware of this as they cast their ballot in the Federal Election."

He says when the plans to save the Murray-Darling and Australia's food bowl were first conceived, scientists at the Murray-Darling Basin Authority determined that between 3900 and 7600 GLs needed to be returned to the river. 

“That number got politically manipulated down by the Nationals to only 2750 GL. SA fought back and refused to sign up to the Plan unless a further 450 GL of 'efficiency water' was returned to the Lower Lakes, the Coorong and Murray Mouth.

“Since the Plan was agreed in 2012, and with only two years to go to completion, the Government has only delivered 2 GL of the 450 GL owed to SA.”

Senator Patrick says the federal ministers are disingenuous and dishonest when they say they want to deliver the plan in full.

"They know that, under the Plan, there are no consequences to not delivering the 450 and have happily sat on their hands doing nothing to fulfil the 'efficiency water' part of the plan."

He says the trust shown in the Coalition Government by new SA Liberal leader – and former Environment Minister - David Speirs, “just shows he's a complete political dolt.”

The Senator says the Labor Party is right to call for water buy-backs from willing sellers, as It's the most efficient way to recover water for the environment.

However he is sceptical of its willingness to follow through, given its voting record in the Senate.

​​​​​​​"Sadly the Federal Labor Party, like the Liberal-National Coalition, will always be inclined to favour the water interests of the larger eastern states. 

“SA Labor is always conflicted in their loyalties because they are part of a party dominated by the political and economic interests of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

"As an independent Senator for South Australia, I have a single focus - the interests of our State".

Formerly with Centre Alliance, Senator Patrick replaced Nick Xenophon when he stood down from the Senate in October 2017.

In 2021 he left Centre Alliance to sit as an independent and registered the Rex Patrick Team as a Parliamentary party with the Australian Electoral Commission