FEDERAL Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision to issue tenders to buy out irrigation water entitlements from southern basin communities is nothing short of a disgrace.
Despite a promise not to prioritise irrigation areas, the Albanese Labor government has launched the Voluntary Water Purchase Program this month – that is, water buybacks – after zero socioeconomic testing in affected communities.
The memory of buybacks is still fresh in the memory of food producers in this region and after significant challenges of drought, floods, and production cost increases, it’s no wonder that many are seeing history repeated.
Sunraysia is Australia’s food bowl and one of the largest agriculture regions in the country.
The impact of this decision and flow-on effects are far-reaching for everyone in our region.
A region where everything is connected to the agriculture industry.
The livelihood of southern basin communities, particularly in north-western Victoria, will suffer greatly and our nation’s ability to grow its own food will be significantly affected.
We have seen it already in Merbein, Red Cliffs and upstream in towns like Tresco, which have been left decimated.
Reducing water from the consumptive pool will drive up the price of food in a cost-of-living crisis.
I was under the impression that the government’s first remit is to pull any levers available to care for the people it serves.
The decision to forge ahead at all costs seems counter-productive.
Achieving the Murray-Darling Basin plan targets should never come at the cost of our communities’ vitality and prosperity.
How can the Federal Government justify taking away from such successful food and fibre-producing regions like ours, especially at a time when producers are already feeling vulnerable?
Thus far, Victorian Water Minister Harriet Shing has been strong in Victoria’s position that any buybacks should not be a burden borne of southern-basin communities in this state.
We have done the heavy lifting and we will not be blackmailed. As a result federal funding for the Sustainable Diversion Limits projects locally have been approved, albeit very late in the piece.
Ms Shing must confirm if she will allow the trades to go ahead.
Labor can’t manage our water resources and Victorians are paying the price.
Jade Benham
Member for Mildura
