A RIFT has developed between the federal government and farmers over the forthcoming Murray-Darling basin plan, suggesting a major pre-election fight on water reform.
In a broadside four months from the release of the draft basin plan, the chief executive of the National Farmers' Federation, Ben Fargher, said the government was rushing out the plan without proper consideration of the effects on regional communities.
Mr Fargher also accused the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, which is drawing up the plan, of favouring environmental considerations ahead of human and farming needs in determining a cap on how much water can be extracted from the river system.
''The effects on jobs in regional communities from a cap is complex stuff and the plan shouldn't be rushed for the government's mid-year deadline,'' Mr Fargher said.
Mr Fargher's charge has been repeated by the opposition water spokesman, Ian Macfarlane, who said there was a danger the plan was being rushed out before the election ''just to show a job's been done''.
Mr Macfarlane said the Coalition's support for a cap on water extraction from the river remained, but farmers were nervous that they were being left out of the process because they only heard about environmental priorities from the government.
The opposition is committed to a referendum for taking control of the Murray-Darling, if state governments do not relinquish their powers by mid-2012.
A spokesman for the Water Minister, Penny Wong, said the farmers' federation assertion that the basin plan would not strike the right balance between the environment and irrigation was wrong.
"It is disappointing that the NFF [has] taken this approach rather than taking up an offer of a briefing,'' the spokesman said. ''They have condemned the plan sight unseen - while it is still under preparation.''
The NFF's position has also been echoed by a number of water catchment authorities who have made similar statements in submissions to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
In Victoria, Goulburn-Murray Water, Coliban Water and Central Highlands Water expressed concern that human needs were not being addressed adequately by the authority in setting a cap.
In NSW, eight catchment authorities said in a joint submission that the lack of public detail about the establishment of the basin plan meant the authority was working towards ''pre-determined outcomes.''
The NSW catchment authorities include Gwydir, Namoi, Central West, Western, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Murray and Lower Murray-Darling. They represent 50 per cent of the basin.
Healthy rivers campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation, Dr Arlene Buchan, said over-extraction from the river had to stop. ''What is the National Farmers' Federation arguing for? A continuation of unsustainable practices?''
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority said it was complying with its legal requirements to consider environmental and human needs equally in setting a cap.
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