Push for referendum on federal takeover of Murray-Darling river system

Centre Alliance says water resources 'must be managed in the national interest'

The Centre Alliance, which could hold or share the balance of power in the Senate after the election, has announced it will push for a referendum to give the commonwealth power over the Murray-Darling River system, in the wake of multiple scandals over enforcement and questions over spending of the $13bn allocated to the plan.

Rex Patrick, who led a push by the Senate in the last parliament to make the Murray-Darling Basin plan more effective, says giving the federal government a clear mandate to make laws for rivers that flow through more than one state is now essential.