Desert again

Trace elements converted a “90 mile desert to fine productive farmland in the upper South East of South Australia a few generations ago. Farmers between the small towns of Keith and Tintinara have prospered (with the addition of water piped from the river Murray, or bores.
I drove through this area last week on holiday, and saw that much of the land has returned to sandy desert – or a pretty good imitation. It’s a grim reflection of extending drought, and it is repeated in many 0places along our nation’s South-East.
Water’s the big subject, these days, and I thought we had a major advance ahead when the PM proposed his big “Save the Murray Valley” scheme, a month or so ago.
I can’t understand why Victoria hasn’t agreed to join the scheme (as I write), but I can’t help feeling petty politics is involved. Certainly the P.M. is a little peeved on that point