Murray-Darling challenge ...

Excerpt from the Sydney Morning Herald:

Murray-Darling challenge will fail: Turnbull

25 July 2007

The Federal Government says a Victorian challenge to a commonwealth takeover of the Murray-Darling Basin will fail.

The prime minister announced yesterday that the commonwealth will use its constitutional powers to take control of the basin without Victoria's support.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has raised the possibility of High Court action to protect his state's water rights, but he's going it alone, with Queensland, NSW and South Australia supporting the $10 billion plan.
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See - Challenge will fail.

Excerpt from news.com.au:

Water grab the 'start of privatisation'

25 July 2007

The Federal Government wants control of the Murray-Darling Basin so it can begin privatising the system, Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says.

Prime Minister John Howard announced yesterday that the Commonwealth would use its constitutional powers to take control of the basin without the support of Victoria.

The other Murray-Darling states of Queensland, NSW and South Australia have already declared their support for the $10 billion rescue package, in which the states would give control of the basin to the Commonwealth.

But Victoria has refused to sign.

"This is a simple power grab from Canberra," Mr Bracks said this morning.

"And I've got no doubt, once Canberra get their hands on the Murray-Darling basin system they'll seek to privatise it, to get private capital in, to do what happens in parts of NSW," he said.

"That's what (Federal Water Minister) Malcolm Turnbull's told me would be a sensible, smart system for Victoria and I assume that's the aims that they want."

Mr Bracks said Mr Turnbull told him private ownership of irrigation systems was "a good move - it gets it out of your hands".
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See - Privatisation of water.