“I suppose the big picture thing across the Murray-Darling Basin is that we have a strong view that we have to have a basin-wide plan, including a cap, that all the states agree to,” Ms Wong said.

“I’ve also signed off on about $4.6 million in grants because I recognise infrastructure improvement and modernisation is a key aspect of the solution and we’re very committed to supporting and assisting irrigation industries.”

Speaking after a tour of the Barren Box Storage and Wetlands Redevelopment, Ms Wong said improving the environmental condition of the nation’s river systems was among Labor’s top concern.

“We’ve put up $50 million to buyback water,” she said. “That water will be used for environmental purposes because we do believe that a healthy river benefits not just the environment but all the communities and industries that rely on the river.”

The buyback of entitlements from willing sellers has attracted criticism from some irrigators, who want to see the water put back in the dams and used for agriculture in times of low allocations, but Ms Wong maintained protecting the rivers from further environmental degradation was a priority.

“I understand that some people are doing it very tough. But ultimately we do need a healthier river … if the communities and industries that rely on it are going to function well.”

Murrumbidgee Irrigation chairman Dick Thompson said hosting Ms Wong had positioned the company well for future dealings with the federal government.

He described their dealings as “extremely beneficial” and noted there appeared few differences between the Labor government and the previous Coalition government on the $10 billion Murray Darling Basin plan.

“At the moment there appears to be no great difference between their position and that of the previous government’s in terms of the $10 billion plan,” Mr Thompson said.

‘Basically it’s heading in the direction of ... our River Reach program; helping people to better manage the environmental water so they get a better outcome.”