Rex Patrick’s plan for referendum on federal takeover of Murray Darling Basin rejected
by Anne Davies from on (#5Q5R6)
A Senate inquiry shot down the senator's bid to avert what he calls a slow-motion disaster', finding the states were better attuned to local needs
The major parties have rejected a proposal from South Australian independent Senator Rex Patrick to hand sole responsibility for the Murray Darling Basin to the commonwealth through a constitutional amendment.
A Senate inquiry into Patrick's bill, which would have put the question of control of Australia's biggest river system to the Australian people through a referendum at the next election, found that while there were frustrations" from many stakeholders, it is not clear that the commonwealth is better placed than the states to manage the basin."
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