Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce claims "the one thing we can do" to reduce the effects of drought is introduce the Bradfield Scheme, an ambitious plan from the 1930s aimed at diverting floodwaters from the north of the country inland. So, is the Bradfield Scheme the solution to easing the effect of drought and floods in northern Australia? Mr Joyce's claim is pie in the sky. The viability of the Bradfield Scheme as an irrigation plan has been dismissed many times by experts over the past 80 years. The scheme has been rebutted on scientific, engineering and economic grounds. Statutory authorities and government departments, as well as independent researchers, have identified "miscalculations", "tremendous costs", "overestimations" and scientific inaccuracies contained in the proposed scheme. They rejected its promise of moderating the climate and of delivering increased rainfall to Australia's arid centre. Experts told RMIT ABC Fact Check that engineering solutions and alternative models for diverting water inland could be found, but the costs were likely prohibitive, with no guaranteed agricultural benefits.
Verdict: Pie in the Sky