Murray-Darling Basin plan: Labor gives states more time to deliver water pledges despite El Niño fears

Tanya Plibersek has warned: ‘When the temperature gets hotter again, when the rain stops falling and the river stops flowing, we will seriously regret it if we don’t act now.’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The states will be given more time to deliver on their pledges to return water to the environment under the Murray-Darling Basin plan despite concerns another El Niño event could deliver more devastating droughts to eastern Australia.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has formally advised there would be a shortfall of 750 gigalitres – about 25% of the target – by June 2024, when the plan was due to be completed. That’s the equivalent of 300,000 Olympic swimming pools.