SA: Federal intervention needed on River Murray, Xenophon says

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2008
SA: Federal intervention needed on River Murray, Xenophon says

ADELAIDE, Aug 8 AAP - The federal government should take over the Murray River system
to save the dying lower lakes, Senator Nick Xenophon says.

The independent senator for South Australia said the river needed to be managed in
the national interest and the federal government should intervene.

"At the moment, the commonwealth does have powers it can use, including environmental
powers and treaty obligations."

The current Council of Australian Governments agreement on managing the Murray-Darling
Basin, signed in July, was flawed, he said.

"It did not allow for the commonwealth to intervene," Senator Xenophon said.

"The river system is still subject to sectional state interests and it is subject to veto.

"We have seen that Victoria has behaved like a vandal in terms of ensuring that there
is a national approach to the river."

He said sanctions needed to be put in place for those who fail to safeguard water and
the current water buyback needed to be fast tracked.

The senator will join thousands of people at the lower lakes on Sunday at a rally to
draw national attention to the plight of the Murray.

AAP lk/ht/mn

KEYWORD: MURRAY XENOPHON

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