Yesterday Premier Brumby publicly announced that Victoria cannot agree to the release of an important report on water availability in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, claiming that it represented an attempt by the Commonwealth to divert water from Victoria to South Australia. The report does no such thing.
At the Water Summit in November 2006, it was agreed that senior officials from the Commonwealth, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission should examine contingency planning to enable the delivery of critical water supplies.
The fourth Contingency Planning Report provides an update on 2007-08 water availability and state water sharing and allocations, an outline of the management of unregulated flows, progress on 2007-08 contingency measures and recommendations for contingency planning in 2008-09.
Last week I wrote to the Premiers of New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria and the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory seeking their agreement to the release of the report. All except Premier Brumby agreed.
Contrary to Mr Brumby's claims, the report does not request that Victoria - or any other jurisdiction - divert water to South Australia. Rather, it recommends that measures be taken in 2007-08 to ensure there is enough water available to run the rivers and for critical needs in 2008-09. This includes the possibility - amongst other actions - of a