Pauline Hanson proposes ban on foreign ownership of Australian water rights

Australian politician Pauline Hanson has called for a ban on foreign ownership of irrigation water rights and for water trading to be limited to those directly involved in farmland use. Murray‑Darling Basin Authority chief executive Andrew McConville said the proposal is unrealistic, noting that water markets have been operating since the 2008 unbundling of water from land titles and have delivered benefits for the environment, communities, agriculture and industry. He emphasized the importance of market liquidity and a range of participants to manage counter‑party risk.

McConville added that foreign investors tend to hold water entitlements longer than domestic traders, but the current market arrangements are “definitely better” than alternatives. He contrasted Australia’s water market with Brazil, where legislation is being considered to allow unrestricted water sales despite the absence of a comparable market structure.