The New South Wales Irrigators Council has supported NSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell, in his announcement that the State will unilaterally cap purchases under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in the event that the Commonwealth Government fails to do so.
The Council's Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Gregson, says that capping buyback is necessary to prevent further social and economic vandalism of rural communities.They've also called on the Federal Opposition to immediately adopt a policy to cap buybacks.
"Purchasing productive water entitlements when alternatives are available is downright foolish. Premier O'Farrell has the right idea - these buybacks need to be capped. Good on him for stepping up to the mark where Minister Tony Burke has failed,'' Mr Gregson said.
"We call on the Federal Opposition to immediately announce a policy of capping purchases of water entitlements. We need to hear from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Shadow Water Minister Senator Barnaby Joyce that they understand a cap on buyback is a necessity and that they will implement it."
The council believes that Mr Burke's assertions that the volume of buyback is in the hands of the states via the 650 environmental works and measures targets is just a little disingenuous.
"If the full 650 is not achieved, it's replaced with buyback," Mr Gregson said.
"Why wouldn't it be achieved? Because the process of approving projects requires unanimous agreement between states - effectively giving South Australia a veto. Having not seen fit to apportion the 650 target or shortfall between states, Mr Burke has handed the most parochial of states an opportunity to pursue buyback. That must be offset with a cap," Mr Gregson concluded.
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