In an interview last week Mr Macdonald said that "his government will put his State's horticulture and irrigation industries ahead of the needs of South Australian water users".

SAFF Land and Water chairperson Sharon Starick says Mr Macdonald's comments "fly in the face of the so-called 'cooperative federalism' through COAG so highly promoted by the federal and state labor governments".

"State parochialism no longer has a place in the management of the Murray-Darling Basin, the system must be managed in a whole of Basin approach – the Australian community has also said as much," Ms Starick said.

"The action needed, and requested by the SA Government, is not about supplying water for irrigators but is about preventing further decline in the health of the River Murray.

"Drastic and urgent action is required. The environment is at a critical level and if nothing is done there will be irreversible consequences for the health of the entire river system including the capacity of the system to support the irrigators the Minister professes to protect.

"The Coorong is an extremely important wetland of international significance and all Australians must demand immediate action to protect it."