The Senate is slated to vote on a disallowance motion on May 8, the same day as the Federal Budget. 

The move would block the introduction of 37 infrastructure projects set out by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).

These projects aim to improve water flow and, in turn, reduce the amount of water buyback required from irrigators. 

Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said she was concerned Labor had not yet announced whether they plan to support the Greens. 

“On this occasion the issue is not what the Greens do, it’s what Labor plans to do and they haven’t announced it yet,” she said.

Labor backed the Greens bid stop Federal Government changes to the Basin Plan in February, causing NSW and Victoria to threaten to withdraw. 

Tied to these amendments is the recovery of an additional 450 gigalitres of water for the environment. This water would be recovered through efficiency improvements with positive or neutral socio-economic impacts on rural communities. 

Ms Ley says if the 450 gigalitres were to be returned she would encourage NSW to leave the Plan altogether. 

“Labor will amend this motion to bring about a stronger requirement to deliver the 450 gigalitres to South Australia,” she said. 

“That would be something they would do over my dead body. We cannot give up another 450 gigalitres.” 

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State Member for Murray and Nationals MP Austin Evans echoed a similar sentiment on both issues. 

“It’s the worst kind of petty politics. It’s a no-evidence based decision making and it’s not the way we want to run this space,” he said. 

“If this gets through I’d be doing more than encouraging NSW to leave the plan. I’d be doing everything in my power.” 

He says regional and rural communities have felt the brunt of the plan’s impact. 

“It would be more than NSW walking away from the plan. It’d be the Basin Plan walking away from us,” Mr Evans said. 

According to MDBA data released earlier this year, many MIA communities have seen a decline in irrigation water, population and employment.

Among them were Hillston and Yanco, who have each lost more than 40 per cent of their full time jobs. 

Hay has bled a quarter of its irrigation water and total workforce since 2001.

“People believe they’ve been misled all the way through and believe that any further water taken out would result in more damage,” Mr Evans said. 

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water Tony Burke confirmed Labor are still in the process of negotiating with the Government. 

“We are continuing to negotiate with the government. There has been goodwill in the negotiations but it’s one of those occasions where nothing is agreed until we have covered all the issues,” he said. 

:Everyone understands the risk if the next instrument is disallowed. Everything is at stake this time. We do not want to see the plan collapse but we need to be confident that its foundations won’t be undermined.”