Monday 3 December 2012

Basin water buyback cap


A  CAP  on water entitlement purchases has been welcomed by the NSW Irrigators Council.

NSW Irrigators Council, chief executive officer, Andrew Gregson said NSW Minister for primary industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, has committed to introducing a legislative cap in the state under the Water Management Act from January 2013. Both the NSW Government and the Federal Opposition this week flagged that they would cap the purchase of water entitlements associated with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
In Federal Parliament opposition Environment Minister Greg Hunt foreshadowed amendments to the Water Act to limit the purchase to 1500 gigalitres which the coalition would enact in Government if not accepted now.
“This is a great result – it is something that we have been doggedly pursuing to ensure a vibrant future for irrigation, irrigation farmers and the communities that they support and rely on,” Mr Gregson said.
“We want to thank Minister Hodgkinson for her commitment and support on this issue along with Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner and Premier Barry O’Farrell,” he said.
Mr Gregson said all of these leaders promised a rally of thousands in Griffith, in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) that they would stay strong and they haven’t wavered from that. 
“In Canberra, Michael McCormack, Sussan Ley, Senator Birmingham and Senator Joyce have been instrumental in engineering a sensible approach to the Basin Plan,” he said.
“He wanted people to work together for the Basin Plan – and now is his chance to practice that approach. “The ball is back in the court of Minister Tony Burke. We urge him to see the sense and practicality in embracing bipartisanship,” Mr Gregson said.
“Minister Burke should commit his Government to accepting the amendments proposed by the Opposition.”

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