This follows demands from green groups for the Federal Government to quicken the pace of its water buyback and to address water trading at this week’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

“This is yet another ridiculous assertion from the groups who frequently and conveniently forget that we are in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years,” Mr Piccoli said.

These are the facts, he said:

In 2006 we had the lowest inflows on record in the Murray-Darling Basin and 2008 is looking almost as bad,

In 2006, 2007 and 2008 we have had record low extractions from the Murray Darling Basin.

“The consequences of these facts are the low river flows and low lake levels in South Australia,” Mr Piccoli said. “It is record low inflows causing the problem, not extractions, so buying up water licences will not solve the problem, only rain will.

“Why do water experts and especially South Australian water experts find this so difficult to understand?”

“These water experts are using the drought to con the NSW and Federal governments into buying water allocations from NSW and Victorian farmers while at the same time South Australian farmers are being offered water allocations. South Australia has just announced a 2 per cent allocation to irrigators in South Australia.

“If one government is handing out water allocations, but subsequently demands more water for the environment then the state government and its advisors need to take a look at their own water system.”