In light of the serious water situation in the Murray Darling Basin, I have invited Premiers Iemma, Bracks and Rann and their Water Ministers to a meeting in Canberra next Tuesday.
The prolonged drought is having a terrible impact on farming communities across Australia.
This is being compounded by water inflows to date in 2006-07 that have been significantly below historical minimal levels.
Water storages and allocations are managed differently among the states.
NSW has announced the suspension of water trading in the NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys due to the on-going dry conditions.
Together with Premiers Iemma, Bracks and Rann I would like to explore the outlook for water delivery and to work together to develop contingencies for town and rural water supplies.
My objective in calling this meeting is to agree on actions to provide the best possible outcome for water users at this difficult time.