Rex Patrick to push for cotton export ban to raise plight of Murray-Darling

South Australian senator says cotton sales are equivalent to exporting 20% of river system's water to China and India

The South Australian Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick is calling for cotton exports to be banned in an attempt to draw attention to the plight of the Murray-Darling river system and the over-extraction by irrigators.

The senator is preparing to introduce a bill when parliament resumes next week. It would impose a ban on exporting cotton in three years' time.