The Australian Greens say a taskforce is needed to drive decisive action to save the Murray-Darling - as evidence in a Senate Inquiry today reveals that the prospects for the system are much worse than previously thought.

"We need every level of Government to urgently refocus on saving the Murray-Darling Basin. This will require a comprehensive plan for reducing water use by half, whilst accelerating water buy-back and re-adjustment of river communities," said Senator Rachel Siewert.

"This needs to happen in two to three years, not ten."

"The evidence from the Wentworth Group of Scientists today shows that the horror situation in the Murray-Darling Basin is worse than anyone expected. We are being told that the system faces an economic, social and environmental crisis. The necessary readjustment has already been happening, but so slowly that it is a death of a thousand cuts for river communities."

"There is no doubt there is a mammoth challenge ahead - but if we can turn this around - then Australia will have achieved a major international breakthrough - and our expertise will be invaluable internationally," said Senator Siewert.

"We need a healthy river to sustain communities and industries across the basin - then we need to reduce our level of extraction from the system across the board by half."

"Our Governments need to step in and put together a serious structural adjustment package that invests in building sustainable and vibrant basin communities for the long term ...while protecting and enhancing our most productive irrigation areas."

Senator Hanson-Young said: "We can fix the Coorong, if we act responsibly. We need a taskforce evaluating the options of this Senate inquiry and developing an action plan to put the solutions into place."

"It is not just South Australians who treasure Storm Boy country - the lakes and Coorong are internationally recognised under the Ramsar convention and the Federal Government has a Constitutional responsibility to protect them."

"As the Went worth Group has pointed out today, to irreversibly damage their ecological character would be in contravention of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act," said Senator Hanson-Young.

"The Greens continue to oppose the plan by the Water Minister Penny Wong to open the barrages and flood these important ecological sites with sea-water, and we welcome the suggestions from the Wentworth Group of other options to minimise the environmental impacts on these precious ecosystems."

"The best option still remains for the Commonwealth to guarantee the 300-400 GL of river flows into Lakes Alexandrina and Albert needed to secure their survival," concluded Senator Hanson-Young.

Media contact - Senator Siewert : Tim Norton 0418 401 180
Media contact - Senator Hanson-Young: Gemma Clark 0427 604 760