The Albanese Labor Government has confirmed it will begin exploring water buybacks in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin, expanding its search beyond the Southern Basin in a desperate attempt to meet its disastrous 450 gigalitre target.

The move follows the Government’s own Third Review of Water for the Environment Special Account, which revealed an additional $1.3 billion is needed to recover the remaining water – nearly double the original funding allocation – while recovery is still projected to fall short of the legislated target by 2027.

Nationals Senator for New South Wales and Shadow Minister for Water, Ross Cadell, said Labor’s latest move would drive up water prices and hit household grocery bills across the country.

“Every time Labor buys water, it makes farming more expensive, and that cost flows straight through to Australian families at the checkout,” Senator Cadell said.

“At a time when Australians are already struggling with the cost of living, Labor is deliberately pushing up the price of food and fibre.”

Senator Cadell said Basin communities had already endured years of economic damage from water recovery programs.

“Regional towns are shrinking, businesses are closing, and families are leaving, all because governments keep taking more water out of production,” he said.

“The environment already holds significant water, and all evidence now points past it being a volume issue. What communities need now is investment in infrastructure, efficiency measures and other practical solutions, not more buybacks driven by political ideology.”

Senator Cadell said expanding buybacks into the Northern Basin showed the Government was panicking about its inability to meet the 450GL target.

“This is not policy that puts Australian interests first. Enough is enough, Labor needs to put the politics aside and serve for the benefit of the people.