The community-based Speak Up Campaign says modelling of water flows and their environmental impacts has long been questioned.
It called on governments to acknowledge that errors may have been made and take remedial action.
This follows recent revelations in media reports of possible inaccuracies in climate and temperature recording, borne out in freedom of information documentation obtained by scientists Dr John Abbott and Dr Jennifer Marohasy.
During a visit to Deniliquin in 2016, Dr Marohasy said the systems used by the Bureau of Meteorology to collect data was the basis on which the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was established, and raised concerns about the accuracy of the data.
She said inaccurate information leads to poor public policy and this has an impact on farming communities, including the amount of water that is allocated for food production.
Speak Up Campaign chair Shelley Scoullar said it was disappointing that scientists like Dr Marohasy, who do not support the status quo, are often victimised and ostracised.
“We have seen examples of this over recent years when environmental scientists question the Basin Plan, in particular the plan’s problematic ‘just add water’ approach,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“Governments and their bureaucracies should take on board these concerns and work collaboratively towards a plan that is developed in the best interests of our environment, communities and food production. Instead, there is a tendency to ostracise those with an alternate solution or viewpoint.
“Unfortunately, the most logical conclusion is that too many in our scientific and bureaucratic communities believe the rhetoric in their ‘echo chambers’ or are too attached to the funding gravy train. This is to the detriment of good public policy, as Dr Marohasy has pointed out.”
During her Deniliquin visit, Dr Marohasy highlighted issues with South Australia’s Lower Lakes which she described as “heartbreaking and horrifying” for those involved in water management.
She described the Lower Lakes as “carp under the surface ... surrounded by golf courses and housing estates”.
Mrs Scoullar pointed out the original recommendation for Basin Plan water recovery for the environment was 2,750 gigalitres.
South Australia demanded an additional 450GL and refused to sign up until it was included, so the Lower Lakes could be kept full for recreation, and ensure there were sufficient channel flows for the expensive housing developments.
“Now we have evidence that this 450GL will cause massive social and economic damage to rural communities, limit food production and therefore increase cost of living pressures,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“At the same time, many scientists bemoan the damage to our iconic Murray River, which is being turned into a drainage channel.
“And despite all the evidence, Water Minister Tanya Plibersek insists this 450GL will be recovered and supports water buybacks.
“Instead, she should be demanding a full review of the Basin Plan, including the outcomes achieved so far and how we can use existing environmental water for maximum benefit, without the damage we are seeing,” she said.
Mrs Scoullar warned that if the Federal Government persists in recovering the 450GL using water buybacks there will be rural outrage.
“Our preference is to work with governments on scientific solutions which have been developed, and we hope that is the path the water minister takes,” Mrs Scoullar said.
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