Drought will mean less water for River Murray irrigators in 2026-27
A political argument between Labor and One Nation has erupted over the most troubling projection for irrigators in six years.
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River Murray irrigators may be forced to reduce their water use by more than a third from July 1.
Water allocations were currently projected to begin at 62 per cent for the 2026-27 financial year, the state Department for Environment and Water announced on Tuesday.
That means irrigators will only be able to use a portion of the water rights they own over the next 12 months, as the amount of water flowing down the river is not likely to be enough for business as usual.
South Australia is normally entitled to 1850 gigalitres of water per year, but flows this year are projected to be closer to 1246GL in a worst-case scenario.
That projection may yet improve, either before or after July 1.
If more rainfall occurs across the Murray-Darling Basin during the winter, irrigators’ allocations will be adjusted accordingly.
The department would closely monitor conditions over the coming months, DEW water delivery manager Renee Thompson said.
But for now, she advised farmers who depend on river water to plan accordingly.
Irrigators will not be able to use water carried over from this financial year, either, because the projected opening allocation is still over 50%.
New minister attacks One Nation
New state Climate, Environment and Water Minister Emily Bourke opted to use the announcement as an opportunity to attack incoming Member for Hammond Robert Roylance and his party over differences in opinion within their ranks.
However, she also noted that she and the government would continue to advocate for South Australia on the national stage.
“Our river communities rely on the long-term health of the Murray-Darling, which is why it’s so important to fight for our fair share and back local farmers,” she said in a statement which otherwise focused mostly on politics.
Asked for a response, Mr Roylance shot back.
“One Nation continues to live rent-free in the heads of the (state) Labor government: their announcement about water allocations was all about our party, not the growers and regional communities who continue to struggle with ever-higher costs under Labor,” he said.
One Nation wanted to “restore the balance” to the Murray-Darling Basin, he said, by both capping government buybacks of water rights and ensuring they would only go ahead if they did not harm basin communities.
“One Nation views water as a strategic resource essential for the population, for agriculture and food security, and for economic growth of this nation and South Australia,” he said.
“One Nation backs our irrigators and our river communities.”
In better times, a year ago, Ms Bourke’s predecessor had spoken about how water was “finally being properly managed” under state and federal Labor governments.
Irrigators had received an opening allocation of 100% for each of the past five years, a period which included the 2022-23 River Murray floods.
