EDITORIAL: Can’t plan without the plan

Ironically, the release date of the long awaited Murray Darling Basin Plan has become increasingly fluid.

It just keeps getting pushed back and now we are told that, in effect, the first version to become public will in fact be a 'draft of the draft' of the plan.
Nobody suggests that such an important document should be rushed, but given the ‘release policies first, ask questions later’ approach of our current Federal Government, it seems somewhat incongruous that the plan is taking so long to deliver - even allowing for the fact that the Murray Darling Basin Authority is apolitical.
And so we wait, and tension bordering on fear continues to fester. Unfortunately, nothing we have heard from our politicians, especially regarding the crucial sustainable diversion limits, has acted to calm our collective nerves.
As pointed out on page 20 of today’s Murray Pioneer, irrigators cannot be expected to take the full hit without regard for the social or economic cost. Late last week we heard whispers that perhaps the plan’s release may be delayed until after the upcoming federal election.
What a copout. Indeed, voters would benefit by knowing what both major parties think about the plan and its many proposals.
It would make a nice change of late to actually know a future policy of both parties, rather than be subjected to on-the-run political spin, released to grab votes and nothing else.