CANBERRA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has overnight ordered a comprehensive review of water use in the nation's largest water basin, after an investigation last week revealed that some irrigators were illegally taking more than their fair share of water.
Last week, an investigation aired on television by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) revealed that irrigators in New South Wales were stealing water from the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), leaving less for farmers in South Australia.
It was also revealed that some of the stolen water had been purchased by taxpayers for use in environmental projects within the basin, causing outrage particularly in South Australia.
As a result, late on Sunday, the federal government announced it would be investigating the accusations; in a joint statement, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said the states would be required to hand over any required information to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), which would be investigating the claims.
"We expect that, as part of their agreement to the review, Basin water ministers will commit to providing the MDBA with ready access to all relevant information and the full support and cooperation of relevant state officials," the statement said.
The statement comes just days after Joyce, who is also the nation's deputy prime minister, said the matter was not one for the federal government to investigate.
"The issue is overwhelmingly an issue for New South Wales and the process is now being investigated by a person outside government, who is independent of government," Joyce said last week.
According to the government statement, the MDBA "will present its findings to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting by Dec. 15, 2017, following a report to the scheduled meeting of the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council in Nov. 2017".
