A Labor government would try to restore the Murray-Darling Basin to health by overturning a deal made last year.

Labor’s environment spokesman Tony Burke announced on Friday the party would repeal the 1500GL cap on buybacks and restore the original socio-economic definition for delivering the 450GL to the system.

The deal between SA Water Minister David Speirs, the other states and the Commonwealth has not progressed, with NSW and Victoria resisting releasing a promised 450GL to their western neighbour.

NSW and Victoria say it would harm their communities to release the water that’s meant to flow to the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth.

The royal commission into the river has slammed the deal as “nothing short of a capitulation to the interests of the current Commonwealth Government, and those of Victoria and New South Wales”.

Leader of SA Labor Peter Malinauskas met with Mr Burke and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten multiple times to push for the changes.

“This is now an opportunity for (Premier) Steven Marshall to accept the recommendations of the royal commission and do the right thing by the river,” he said.