The South Australia government is calling for a judicial inquiry into the misappropriation of billions of liters of water from the River Murray.  The opposition is backing this call, as are indigenous and environmental groups, and key Senators.

This comes after ABC's Four Corners program reported that cotton growers in New South Wales were pumping out billions of liters of water that had been purchased by the taxpayers to be returned to the environment under the 2012 Murray-Darling Basin Plan.  The bi-partisan agreement governs how to use the water that flows down the nation's longest river system.

"If the allegations are correct, that at a very senior level in the public service in New South Wales that people have turned a blind eye to this, then that is very concerning," said SA Water Minister Ian Hunter.  "There needs to be an independent judicial review - independent of government, independent of politics," he added, "Because this strikes at the very heart of the public service in New South Wales."

Indigenous groups says the ABC investigation shows that governments are not working together and oversight of the river systems is broken.  "Water that has been dedicated to protect our environment and paid for by Australian taxpayers, is being sucked up and turned into profits for a cabal of wealthy agribusinesses," said Rene Woods, chair of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN).  She added, "Senior public servants appear to have colluded with irrigators to assist their campaign against the Murray-Darling Basin plan.  Aboriginal communities have watched as their sacred rivers are degraded, impacting on community health and threatening our ability to sustain our unique culture."

MLDRIN wants an overhaul of water planning and the removal of the water ministry from the NSW National party.  Crossbench Senator Nick Xenophon is backing MLDRIN's call for the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption to investigate "stolen" water.  And he's joining Senator Hanson-Young's call for a Senate inquiry with full parliamentary privilege to protect witnesses.

"South Australia, the environment and taxpayers are all being screwed while a misuse of water caps is being used to line the pockets of big irrigators upstream," said Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.  "The Murray-Darling basin plan cost taxpayer $13 Billion, an extraordinary amount, and now we see the river isn't even getting its fair share.  This abuse of money and water should alarm all taxpayers."

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to "the sustainable and equitable management of the State's water resources".