SA: New study vindicates water buybacks says Wong

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2010
SA: New study vindicates water buybacks says Wong

Water Minister PENNY WONG says a new study has vindicated the federal government's
water purchase program in the Murray-Darling Basin .. showing it has eased financial pressures
on irrigators.

The government has released the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
report which models the impact of the one-and-a-half billion dollars in water buybacks
conducted so far.

It's found the lost production from water purchases was small compared to the impact
of the drought and showed the program was helping irrigators prepare for the new lower
limits on water use .. to be instigated under the Murray-Darling Basin plan.

AAP RTV tjd/sw

KEYWORD: MURRAY (ADELAIDE)

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