Federal Coalition backs plan to reform management of River Murray - Herald Sun

Dam buster: the Federal Coalition has backed the plan to reform management of the River Murray. Source: Supplied

TONY Abbott has used the last Coalition joint partyroom meeting to commit the Opposition to support the Government's Murray Darling Basin plan.

The decision, a big win for SA Liberals who have backed the plan strongly and stared down vigorous internal opponents, heralds the end of more than 100 years of interstate and cross-party bickering over the river and ensures the numbers in Parliament to protect the new plan.

Mr Abbott addressed the final parliamentary meeting for the year in Canberra this morning and told colleagues that while there were some reservations, the plan - securing 2750 gigalitres for the Murray by 2019 and another 450 gigalitres by 2024 - would get Opposition support.

With the new deal now before both houses of Parliament for a minimum of 15 sitting days - a requirement under law - at least three disallowance motions have been flagged: one from the Greens, one from Queensland independent Bob Katter, and one from Coalition MPs Sharman Stone and Mark McCormack.

Mr Abbott said he understood that two of his backbenchers would break ranks because of issues in their own Basin electorates but said the Coalition would nonetheless back the plan as signed off on by Water Minister Tony Burke last week.

Opposition spokesman on the Murray Darling Basin, Simon Birmingham, said it was a positive day for the river and for South Australia.

"The Howard Government started this process, we have worked hard to improve the Basin Plan through the tortuous five-year process of its development under Labor, and we think this a better plan than some of those that we have seen before," he told adelaidenow.

"We have reservations about the Government's approach to its implementation but we will make sure in government that we implement it with the utmost regard for achieving outcomes that protect the social and economic fabric of river communities by delivering water from infrastructure projects.

"We recognise that this is a reform SA has sought for 120 years and we are proud that the Howard Government started this process and we are determined to see it implemented in a fair and efficient way for all of the community."

Mr Abbott's announcement contradicts Labor critiques of the Opposition leader that he automatically opposes all Government initiatives.

It is understood he told colleagues he understood their reservations and the lack of trust many voters felt towards Labor but stressed the plan was the best that could be achieved.