Xenophon's threat to govt on votes

Crossbench senator Nick Xenophon has threatened to hold up dealings with the government on legislation until a dispute over the Murray-Darling Basin plan is resolved.

Senator Xenophon, who holds a crucial bloc of three Senate votes, is angry about a letter from federal Water Minister Barnaby Joyce allegedly reneging on an understanding to return 450GL to the river for its environmental health.

"We need to sort out this water mess before we sort any other pieces of legislation the government is interested in," Senator Xenophon said in Adelaide on Friday.