FED:No impact from water chief quitting: MP

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2010
FED:No impact from water chief quitting: MP

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - Federal independent MP Tony Windsor says the resignation of the
Murray-Darling Basin Authority's chairman won't affect the final decision on a plan to
manage the river system.

Michael Taylor has resigned amid a dispute over legal advice about the Water Act and
the authority's role.

Mr Taylor, in his resignation statement, said the Act meant his agency could not "compromise
the minimum level of water required to restore the system's environment on social or economic
grounds".

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her advice is that final basin plan should consider
environmental, social and economic issues.

Mr Windsor, who is chairing a parliamentary inquiry into the issue, said the resignation
of Mr Taylor would not have any impact on the debate.

He said there were always going to be problems with the Water Act, which the Howard
government introduced in 2007 to stem political support flowing to then Labor leader Kevin
Rudd over his stance on climate change.

"At the end of the day, the (Murray-Darling Basin) authority had no authority," Mr
Windsor told Sky News.

"The parliament has the authority. The parliament should use the information it gets
... and then make some deliberations.

"Who the chairman (of the MDBA) is ... at the end of the day won't make a lot of difference."

Mr Windsor said the Water Act - which he voted against when it was introduced to parliament
- was badly designed, but it was now up to MPs to make it work.

"Proceeding forward, I think that what we've got to do is get the information together
and have the debate in parliament and then a decision will be made whether something happens
or nothing happens," he said.

AAP pjo/rl/pc

KEYWORD: MURRAY WINDSOR

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