Facts and figures
This page corrects misreported and incorrect statements made in relation to this department's water reform responsibilities.
March 2011
Compulsory acquisition of water
Media source: Sunrise, 7 network
On 7 March, Alan Jones appeared on the Sunrise program and said the Australian Government was compulsorily acquiring water from farmers.
The Australian Government will not compulsorily acquire water. There will be no cuts to the water entitlements of farmers who wish to keep irrigating. The government has consistently stated that it will only recover water from farmers who choose to participate in our programs including grants for irrigation infrastructure upgrades and water purchase.
December 2011
Pipeline from the Ord, Western Australia
Media source: The West Australian
On 2 December, The West Australian ('Push on for Ord pipeline to east') stated 'Key industry players and WA MPs have been briefed on aspects of 1800 km pipeline proposal, which would be funded through the $10 billion earmarked to buy back water from struggling Murray irrigators'.
The Australian Government has not committed funding to any pipeline proposals in Western Australia, including this proposed 1800 km pipeline.
'$10 billion for water purchases'
Media source: Adelaide Advertiser, The West Australian, and The Canberra Times
The Adelaide Advertiser ('Ord pipeline could save Murray') and The West Australian ('Push on for Ord pipeline to east') reported on 2 December there was $10 billion available to fund water buybacks from irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin. On 8 December, The Canberra Times ('Basin scheme lacks adequate monitoring') also reported 'the Gillard Government's $12.8 billion water buyback scheme'.
The Australian Government has committed $3.1 billion to the Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin program to purchase water entitlements for the environment. The Government has also announced it will provide additional funding of $310 million per annum from 2014-15 to bridge the gap to the new sustainable diversion limits in the final Basin Plan.
A further $4.8 billion is available for infrastructure and water management.
For further information visit: Water recovery to 'bridge the gap' - Fact sheet 2011
Videos
Murray-Darling Basin Plan
The Australian Government has delivered a historic plan to better meet the future water needs of the environment, communities and industry in the vital Murray-Darling Basin. >> Watch Video
Basin Plan
Find out more about the Basin Plan.
Resources
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Water websites
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Publications
- Fact sheet: Planning and use of Commonwealth environmental water
- Basin case studies: the socio-economic impacts of sustainable diversion limits and Water for the Future investments - An assessment at a local scale
- Fact sheet: Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) adjustment mechanism
- Fact sheet: Australian Government investment in enhanced environmental outcomes
- Fact sheet: Environmental flow delivery constraints
Water information hotline
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