The Australian Greens have urged Water Minister Penny Wong to rise above parochial politics and live up to her role of leading the nation on water policy, saying the House of Representatives should accept the amendments passed by the Senate today.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she was surprised to find Minister Wong had been playing off South Australian towns against other communities further upstream on water security in the Murray-Darling Basin.

"Minister Wong has pitted the communities of Dubbo, Wagga and Mildura against communities in Adelaide, Port Pirie, Whyalla and Keith – by suggesting the former will have ample water and the latter will be 'at risk' from Senate amendments to the Water Act," she said.

“This is nothing more than playing old-style parochial politics.

"Minister Wong's 'divide and conquer' strategy is desperate and will not work."

Senator Hanson-Young said that the Greens, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Coalition Senators were providing the lead for Minister Wong by moving for the Murray-Darling system to be put on a sustainable footing that will directly benefit South Australian towns.

"We must ensure that water in the system is used to support the communities within the system, and to secure the long-term health of the Murray-Darling through adequate environmental flows," she said.

“The Senate has agreed to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority putting together a plan for populations outside the Basin to reduce their dependency on the river.

“Rather than crying foul, the Government should recognise this as a responsible principle, and start supporting these communities in getting on the front foot in becoming smarter with water.
 
"It is totally wrong for Minister Wong to stoop to scare-mongering about water security, simply because the Senate has provided improvements to her plans for the Water Act.

“The Greens call on the Government to accept the Senate’s amendments in the House of Representatives, so that the improvements to the Bill can stand.”