The Albanese Labor Government and the Australian Capital Territory Government have reached an agreement to fulfill the ACT's water recovery obligations under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The agreement to recover 4.9 gigalitres per year to bridge the remaining gap was co-signed by the ACT Government and marks an important milestone reached for both governments.
Reaching this milestone demonstrates significant success after years of limited progress under the Federal Liberal National Government.
Today's announcement builds on the progress towards Bridging the Gap to the Sustainable Diversion Limits. Last month the Albanese Government announced that an expected 26.25 GL/y of water will have been recovered through the voluntary water purchase tender, with the Gap anticipated to be bridged in three of the six catchments in New South Wales and southern Queensland.
Having now bridged the gap in the ACT, the Albanese Government will have recovered around 31 GL/y towards the 49.2 GL/y, or around 60 per cent of the remaining total target, across all seven catchments.
As stated by ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury:
"The Murray Darling Basin is our country's lifeblood, but for years it has been dying, thanks to corporate greed and political failures.
"While there has been some progress under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, it has been too slow. We know that we need to do much more to rebuild river and wetland health, improve water quality, deliver cultural flows and water for First Nations, and address shortages in water supply for critical human water needs.
"I am pleased to announce today that the ACT and Australian governments have finalised an agreement that will deliver the ACT's 4.9 GL/year 'Bridging the Gap' water recovery commitment, and contribute an additional 1.46 GL/year of water towards other Basin water recovery targets in the national interest.
"This water recovery agreement is a key milestone and signals our ongoing commitment to increasing water efficiency and restoring the health of the Murray Darling Basin. We will continue working with the Australian Government to ensure that the full outcomes of the Basin Plan are realised. We will also continue working to protect the health of the upper Murrumbidgee River which has been starved of flows for too long.
(*N.B. The original joint media release has been edited to remove ACT and Federal Labor comments at their request.)
