The split within opposition ranks on the issue came as NSW Water Minister Katrina Hodgkinson warned "there is every chance" the largest basin state will not sign on to the intergovernmental agreement that will underpin the rollout of the historic reform.
THE AUSTRALIAN
Riverina Nationals MP Michael McCormack has issued an intention to move the disallowance motion, seconded by his Liberal colleague Sharman Stone.
Mr McCormack, whose NSW electorate takes in the irrigation stronghold of Coleambally and Griffith, said the plan to return 2750 billion litres of surface water to the environment by 2019 would hurt his region.
"When you get elected to parliament you have to have the courage of your convictions, and when 11,000 people turn up to a meeting in Griffith and look you in the eye and say we need you to best represent us when this bill comes to the parliament -- if you then turnaround and support a bad plan then you are really not worthy of their support," Mr McCormack told The Australian.
Water Minister Tony Burke issued a warning to all MPs about the consequences of torpedoing the basin plan. "Once disallowed, the plan looses all force of law immediately, it can be reintroduced six months later but only in an identical form, which would then mean that if disallowance were successful in either house, the entire process, which has been going on since the last election, would need to recommence from scratch," Mr Burke said. "We would be looking at a situation where the reform, long awaited and built on over decades, would effectively come to nothing."
Tony Abbott yesterday confirmed the Coalition would support the plan but would push amendments to neutralise the socio-economic consequences and cap buybacks at 1500GL.
The NSW government meanwhile confirmed it would impose its own limits on water buybacks to 3 per cent if Mr Burke did not move to do so in the intergovernmental agreement.
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