Plan to save River Murray in national interest: Gillard
27 Oct 2012
The latest plan to save the River Murray was about fostering better water management for all Australians, according to prime minister Julia Gillard.
She said the plan to return 3200GL a year to the river system was in the national interest and not for the exclusive benefit of South Australia.
Gillard yesterday said she was commited to spending an extra $1.77 billion over 10 years, securing a further 450GL of water through on-farm irrigation efficiencies by 2024.
According to the prime minister, this was not a plan for just a fair share for water in South Australia. She was addressing the South Australian Labor Party convention in Adelaide today.
She added it was a plan for the smart use of water everywhere.
According to Gillard her childhood in Adelaide had been influential in her decision to support a plan which would return 3200 billion litres to the system and safeguard its long-term health.
