Shepparton Independent MP Suzanna Sheed says she's disappointed to see the Murray Darling Basin Plan being used for political point scoring, in the lead up to the upcoming Federal election.
Federal Opposition Water spokesman Tony Burke says a Labor Government would reverse what he says are the government's harmful changes to the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
He said a Labor Government was committed to introducing a Bill to repeal the 1500Gigalitre cap on water buybacks,
It would also change the socio-economic definition for delivering the 450GL of water for the environment.
"For the last six years the Government has not taken action to implement the Basin Plan," Mr Burke said
"The environment and surrounding communities are suffering as a result of this inaction."
Labor also committed to:
.Restoring the integrity of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority by moving its compliance functions to the Environmental Protection Agency and ordering a formal review of claims public servants acted unlawfully
.An urgent review of climate change impacts on the Basin now and into the future to determine any change in inflows and evaporation rates
.Urgently renegotiating the Menindee agreement, which specifies how the lakes are managed and was now decades out of date
But Ms Sheed said a deal, reached last December, defined a robust socio-economic test for the recovery of the additional 450GL of water.
The agreement, from Basin water ministers, was too important to Victorian farmers to be tossed aside for electoral advantage by the Federal Labor Party.
"The Murray Darling Basin is facing serious ongoing challenges, but they must be dealt with by a considered, evidence-based approach that reflects the reality on the ground, not the political climate," Ms Sheed said.
"It is clear that there are steps required to address the terrible impact on the Darling River and the Menindee Lakes, but it is the Northern Basin which must address these issues."
She said the Southern Basin, and in particular Victorian farmers, had already done the heavy lifting, returning the majority of water required for the benefit of the environment.
"Unfortunately this has not only caused considerable harm to the social and economic fabric of our farming communities, which is continuing, but evidence is also emerging that the high flows associated with sending additional water downstream is inflicting concerning damage to river environments in our own state."
Ms Sheed said it beggared belief that while farmers in the eastern Basin States were already facing challenging drought conditions, politicians would seek to compound their angst.
"We're facing the worst natural drought since the Millennium Drought, and this is only being made worse by the man-made drought caused by water leaving the region under the Murray Darling Basin Plan," Ms Sheed said.
"For Tony Burke to talk about repealing the cap on water buybacks and trying to overrule an agreement signed by all Basin Plan members, just weeks out from a Federal election, shows such blatant disregard for the plight of farmers who are struggling to make ends meet.
"This continued uncertainty is so damaging to our communities."
No support
A Victorian government spokeswoman said it did not support the changes.
"We will, as always,stand up for the interests of Victorian irrigators and farming communities who rely on the Basin," the spokeswoman said.
"Victoria, the Commonwealth and the other Basin states agreed at Basin Ministerial Council to socio-economic criteria to protect Basin communities - any changes to this criteria is a decision for the States."
Earlier this month, Water Minister Lisa Neville reiterated her opposition to the plans to remove the cap on preventing the Government from buying more water.
She said she had been "absolutely" consistent, every step of the way, in not supporting buybacks.
"I do not support the proposal, by Federal Labor, around buybacks," Ms Neville said.
"I tell you, the people who have stood up for the irrigators in the north of Victoria are the Labor Party."
She said she had made her position clear, in many different forums.
"I have spoken directly to irrigators. I have made it absolutely clear directly to the Federal shadow minister that we do not support further buybacks, and whatever happens, that will be our consistent position. "
Ms Neville told State Parliament she made it clear she would continue to speak out, in various ways and forums, against further buybacks.
"I will do whatever I have to to continue to oppose further buybacks, whoever is proposing them," Ms Neville said.
Horrific proposal
Victorian Opposition Water spokeswoman Steph Ryan said the proposal was "absolutely horrific.
"Labor is selling out our communities to chase votes in the city," Ms Ryan said.
National Irrigators Council chief executive Steve Whan said on social media it was important to remember the Plan was an agreement involving all Basin states.
"It's not a surprise, but it is very disappointing to see the refusal to recognise that the old single property test for the 450 was not adequate," Mr Whan said.
"The legislation makes it clear that States can agree on other methods or tests to get the 450."
He said South Australian residents must be smart enough to realise they ended up losing as well, if Australia went back to a battle, instead of a plan.
Cruel hoax
And Federal Water Minister David Littlproud has called plans to change the neutrality test a "hoax."
Mr Littleproud said Mr Burke knew the proposal couldn't be delivered.
In December, all Basin states and territories plus the Commonwealth signed a historic agreement which stated water recovered must have neutral or positive socio-economic impacts and a local and regional scale.
"Labor knows full well the neutrality test can't be changed without the agreement of the states," Minister Littleproud said.
"It took years of negotiation to finally deliver this agreement on our nation's biggest ever environmental project and nobody should be playing politics with it.
"The 1500 GL buyback cap has not been reached so removing it is a stunt aimed at South Australian votes - but it rips certainty away from Basin communities.
"The two million Australians up and down the basin are tired after years of not knowing how much water will be in their districts because water equals farm production and jobs.