Palaszczuk mulls water scheme amid drought

Queensland's premier has become the latest in a string of politicians to have toyed with the idea of a decades-old irrigation scheme as the solution to crippling drought.

Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is open to discussing with Prime Minister Scott Morrison whether a smaller version of the 1930s Bradfield scheme could help bone-dry communities survive.

"I've had people talk to me about it in the regions, and I'm more than happy to have a conversation with the Prime Minister," she told a gathering of business and industry leaders in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Water from north Queensland would be redirected inland and then through New South Wales to South Australia under the original scheme.

Politicians from across the spectrum have periodically dusted off the proposal as a way to ease the impact of drought.

Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie, federal MP Bob Katter, the NSW Nationals, former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and One Nation senator Pauline Hanson have all supported it in one form or another.

"Perhaps we need to work with the federal government to see if we can do any planning together, for example, when it comes to a smaller version of the Bradfield scheme," Ms Palaszczuk added.