News | 8th Aug, 2012

Premier Jay Weatherill aims to convince voters to back his River Murray plan

Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Daniel Wills, Adelaide Advertiser

Premier Jay Weatherill will today unveil an advertising campaign aimed at wooing voters to back his demand for more water to return to the River Murray.


The television, print and online advertising will target South Australians, but there are no plans to run the ads in upstream states.


The campaign comes as Federal Water Minister Tony Burke yesterday gave his strongest indication yet that he would overrule the Murray Darling Basin Authority's draft plan and return more water to the  river system.


Mr Burke said he "suspected" 2750GL would not be enough to reach the environmental needs of the ailing system.


He said the extra water, of up to another 450 billion litres, would be recovered through infrastructure and not at the expense of irrigators and communities reliant on the river.


Mr Weatherill will speak at RiAus Science Exchange in Adelaide.


Yesterday his office would not reveal details of the announcement.


Mr Weatherill is likely to face criticism for using taxpayers' money to sell a partisan political message.


It is understood that filming of short, documentary-style movie clips has been undertaken over recent months in affected communities and aim to present a united SA front on the reform plan. 

 

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