Nor was Senator Wong acknowledging complaints about the major imbalance between buybacks and infrastructure investment.

She insisted major infrastructure projects were at “various stages of delivery” and strong interest from irrigators to sell their water to the Government had been a big help to the sector.

“The Rudd Government has allocated more than $4.4 billion to projects that upgrade and modernise water irrigation infrastructure in the basin to help our farmers and regional communities maintain production in a future with less water,” her statement said.

“This is in direct contrast to the Howard Government, which failed to allocate a single cent on water infrastructure under the plan it finally launched after 10 years of neglect.

“These major infrastructure projects require careful planning and are at various stages of delivery.

“Under the Rudd Government, three major projects have been completed, some are well underway, and several business cases are being refined and subjected to due diligence.”

Senator Wong’s statement said four key Australian Government-led infrastructure projects – the $300 million Southern Basin and Lachlan On-Farm Efficiency program, the $650 million NSW Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators program, the $200 million Strengthening Basin Communities program, and the $110 million SA Private Irrigation Infrastructure program - were “well underway”.

“There will be further developments on infrastructure in the coming weeks,” she said.

On water purchases, Senator Wong said it was important for the health of the rivers and for the benefit of communities to invest in both infrastructure and water purchase.