Fed: You must sell your water: Senators

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2008
Fed: You must sell your water: Senators

Farmers could be forced to sell their water to the government as momentum grows for
compulsory acquisitions.

With the crisis in the Murray-Darling Basin worsening .. the government has more than
three billion dollars available to buy water rights .. so it can return more water to
the parched river system.

Currently .. farmers only have to sell if they want to .. and if they like the government's price.

But the Greens and Independent Senator NICK XENOPHON plan to join forces in the Senate
.. where they hold key seats .. to make the water buy-backs compulsory.

The government has repeatedly rejected compulsory acquisition and some farmers and irrigators
strongly oppose such a move .. but Senator XENOPHON says it's the best way forward.

AAP RTV ca/wz/fdf

KEYWORD: MURRAY (CANBERRA)

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