Federal election 2019: Darling River is dying, says Greens candidate David Paull
CRISIS POINT: Parkes candidate for the Greens David Paull says action on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is needed. Photo: CONTRIBUTED
A royal commission on the management of the Murray-Darling Basin is needed before it's too late, says Parkes candidate for the Greens David Paull.
The Greens say a small number of large irrigators have benefited from the Murray-Darling Basin Plan but downstream communities are in a state of crisis.
The Australian Government describes the plan as a coordinated approach to water use across the Murray-Darling Basin's four states that balances social, economic and environmental demands.
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But Mr Paull said $8.5 billion had been spent during the life of the plan and "the result was a dying river".
"The environment has been forgotten and climate change disregarded in managing the Murray Darling Basin, and that must change," he said.