Commission intends to delve into issues across the basin and invite witnesses from other statesA royal commission into the Murray-Darling basin plan called by South Australia could become a de facto national inquiry into the river system, after the commission made clear it intends delve into issues across the basin and invite witnesses from other states. Releasing an issues paper today, the commission said it was not convened to advocate for South Australia, which at the end of the Murray-Darling system has experienced greater impacts from irrigation. “The commission does not represent South Australia and, in simplistic terms, does not take a position ‘for’ South Australia, or ‘against’ any other basin state.”The commission said its expectation was that it would receive cooperation and assistance from people, organisations and government departments. The commission wants to hear from the MDBA about its methodology and how it interprets its responsibilities under the federal water act. One interesting tangent will be the commission’s investigation into the powers of the commonwealth to potentially take over management of the Murray-Darling basin.

Source: The Guardian April 04, 2018 21:30 UTC