Campaigns - Nick Xenophon - Independent Senator for South Australia

I believe the federal government should run the river in the national interest.

Every farmer, regardless of which state they live in, should be entitled to equitable access to the Murray.

I believe with one river system, we need one set of rules.

The rivers don't recognise state borders and on this issue neither should we.

Environmentally, the river is in crisis. This is why I successfully lobbied the federal government to bring forward almost a billion dollars in spending on water projects and on communities to reduce the burden on the Murray.

This will also help economically. Recent economic analysis has shown that the Riverland – the most water efficient food bowl in the nation - could face unemployment rates of over thirty per cent within a decade unless we act now. This brought forward spending will inject money into communities and create jobs.

The money is a good start. But there is a lot more to be done.

We need to focus on increasing farming efficiencies up and down the river system, so that water isn't wasted and the rivers won't run dry.

And we need to ensure a secure level of environmental flows so world heritage listed wetlands, like South Australia's Lower Lakes, don't turn to salt.

Ultimately our river is dying because of a lack of political will to address the over-allocation and inefficiencies that have seen this once great river system now on the brink of destruction.
I believe my job is to be persistent, pesky and a political pain until the Federal Government finds the will to save the Murray Darling Basin, and a full national takeover would be a good start.

If you have a story or idea about the Murray that you’d like to share, please send me an email or a letter.

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