Water war: rejuvenated Nationals spring Murray-Darling Basin demands on Liberals

Nationals propose ban of water buybacks as party uses return of leader Barnaby Joyce to reassert influence

An emboldened National party is flexing its muscle under returned leader Barnaby Joyce, demanding the Liberals adopt major changes to the Murray-Darling Basin plan as the two parties enter negotiations on a new Coalition agreement.

On Wednesday the Nationals blindsided Liberal colleagues by introducing amendments to a government bill to reduce environmental flows under the basin plan, revealing they had been secretly working on it for months" in a bid to change government policy.