Murray-Darling Basin plan: more money or time needed to complete water buybacks, experts say

Labor will have to show that recovering water does not cause any negative social or economic issues in regional communities

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The Albanese government will face a tougher time buying back water to fulfil the Murray-Darling Basin plan due to increased corporatisation, fewer water holders and a socioeconomic impact test that cannot be met, experts have warned.

Ben Williams, of water analyst Aither, which publishes an index of water entitlements, said the volume turning over annually in the southern basin had dropped 60% since 2011-12 - after the last water buybacks under the Rudd government.

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