NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson is reluctant to support the final Murray-Darling Basin Plan, signed into law by federal Water Minister Tony Burke yesterday.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) presented the final Basin Plan to Mr Burke on Wednesday after legislation to allow the 450GL adjustment mechanism passed the Senate. Mr Burke addressed the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday, confirming the final plan would achieve a water savings target of 2750 gigalitres.
Ms Simson said it was important to acknowledge how far the plan had progressed in the five years the issue had been debated, but “unless our key expectations have been met, it is unlikely that the plan will have our support”.
“It would pain me to oppose a plan that had the potential to deliver so much for basin communities,” she said.
“Our members live and work in the basin and we all proudly contribute to its health.
“Whether we can support the plan or not will come down to whether the federal government values our contribution to the social, economic and environmental future of the basin as highly as satisfying the South Australian government.”
Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner has previously claimed South Australian support for the Basin Plan had been “bought off” with an $85 million funding promise for research, regional development and industry redevelopment.
“We’ve been asking for similar financial assistance for our affected communities and we haven’t got a cent,” he said.
Ms Simson recognised that compulsory buybacks were off the table, significant infrastructure investment was being delivered and “previous water savings made by our innovative members have been recognised”.
“Credit for these advances must go to the NSW Irrigators’ Council, National Farmers’ Federation and the O’Farrell government which have lobbied alongside us for a fairer outcome for farmers and rural communities,” she said.
“We have been buoyed by the Deputy Premier’s commitment today that if the federal government will not commit to a cap on buybacks, the NSW government will.
“The Murray-Darling Basin includes some of the most strategically important land and water resources for agriculture in the country,” she said, noting that the basin covers three-quarters of NSW and produces over one third of Australia’s food supply.
“We are in this for the long run. The fight is far from over.”
I wonder why? You don't like to see any more water going to South Australia Have you ever bother to go to Renmark in South Australia's Riverland I bet not there is no such thing as fruit trees or very few. the Banks at Murray Bridge where at the stage of falling into the river Why? well let me tell you. You people would not let anymore water down the river how many people the remember the out break of Blue-Green Algae in 1995? Again I bet no one does Why are you people growing Rice and Cotton and overhead watering said crops not for getting over head watering of Wheat?
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