This may be very late notice, but ABC Radio National's "Australia Talks" tonight at 6:05PM (+10:00) is about "Buying back the Murray":

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/australiatalks/stories/2008/2341186.htm
South Australia's lower lakes have become a rallying point for the crisis facing the Murray Darling. Scientists say the lakes will be lost unless there are significant inflows of water before summer. But is there enough water to save the lakes and where will it come from? The Australian Conversation Foundation wants the Federal Government to buy six big rural properties that have significant water storages, including the controversial Cubbie Station. The ACF says between them, those properties could deliver 300 gigalitres, and buy some time for the lower lakes. Meanwhile, the new independent senator Nick Xenophon is supporting the compulsory acquisition of water licenses, arguing that time is running out for the Murray Darling. But with the resource in crisis, have we lost the chance to strike a balance between the environment and the needs of agriculture? Do we have to accept that nothing can be done to save the lower lakes?
---

Thanks, Fractelle,

I guess the "small government" free market ideology that has become the official orthodoxy since the 1980's doesn't help either.

Jennifer, could you tell us if it could be shown that buying back water was feasible and that it would save the Murray would you be opposed to that in principle?