Hi AussieJeff,
The simple truth of the matter IMO, is that the MurrayDarling basin is a mess, caused by the fact that it spreads through four states.
At present each has the right to sell water allotments, they have done so to the extent that 128% or more, of the average water flow has been sold.
The only solution is that someone administers the whole lot otherwise we are going to end up with range wars and state feuds
Just last month Qld sold off more water rights to the Warrego River, this is a feeder into the Darling, so even in times of southern drought, Qld are pumping more water out, leaving less for everyone else downstream.
Something has to be done to give everyone "a fair go" , who actually owns the water rights is actually irrelevant to the fact that the water supply needs to be rationed, so that everyone has the opportunity to use their farmland properly and the river is kept in a healthy state.
The present owners of the water rights paid the states for them, by law they have the right to then sell them to anyone who will pay.
If you are unhappy that they are owned by overseas interests, then you need blame the states, for they are the ones who sold them in the first place.
Just as an aside, how do those in WA, and Tas feel about the fact the states have created the mess and the Commonwaelth is wanting to fund the solution ?
I guess the generous distribution of GST to the smaller states needs to be balanced at some time.
BUT I guess in the long term, the River itself, is the what we need to look after as best as we can and that can only be done by one authority so we can avoid the current buck passing and finger pointing.