Fed: Rann confident of compromise on Murray-Darling

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2007
Fed: Rann confident of compromise on Murray-Darling

South Australian Premier MIKE RANN says he's confident he can reach a compromise with
the prime minister on the future management of the Murray-Darling basin.

JOHN HOWARD's gone to the mouth of the Murray River at Coorong .. south of Adelaide
.. as part of his plan to persuade state premiers to accept a federal takeover of the
Murray-Darling.

The New South Wales .. Victorian and ACT governments have welcomed Mr HOWARD'S plan
.. which includes a 10 billion dollar injection in federal funding.

But Mr RANN .. who's in Sydney for talks with federal Labor leader KEVIN RUDD .. and
New South Wales Premier MORRIS IEMMA .. wants the river system to be managed by a commission
of independent experts.

He says he's willing to compromise .. provided the new management model safeguards
the interests of his state.

AAP RTV pj/was/wz/bart

KEYWORD: WATER RANN (SYDNEY)

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