COMMODITY group representatives met with the National Party in Canberra this week, to protest against the revised Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Amendments to the plan, agreed to last month by every rivestate except Victoria, extend timelines, and introduce the option of voluntary water buybacks.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the government’s decision to abandon the socio-economic neutrality test to recover up to 450 giglalitres of water for enhanced environmental outcomes has caused “unanimous anxiety and anger” for irrigation communities.
“I really am concerned … 450GL is fundamentally the Sydney Harbour, and it means in terms of the water that irrigates crops, we’re talking 70,000 hectares,” Dr Webster said.
“That’s basically Sunraysia wiped out.”
She joined Coalition colleagues from across the Basin in opposition to the plan, because of the impact it could have on access and the price of water.
Dr Webster said they met representatives from Summerfuit Australia, Citrus Australia, the cotton industry and the NFF.
“The concern from the top of the Basin all the way down through to South Australia is that wherever you take that water from, it will impact the ability for farmers to grow food and fibre for Australia and Australians, and for the world,” Dr Webster said.
“It will mean that there will be an impact at the checkout, people’s grocery bills will absolutely go up
“Our understanding is that even though (Victorian Water Minister) Harriet Shing, and all credit to her, that she has said ‘no, Victoria will not be part of this’, that the Federal Minister can buy back anywhere.
“That is a concern, it needs to be clarified, (federal water minister) Tanya Plibersek needs to answer Victoria and South Australia who have said they will not be part of buybacks, whether farmers can still sell to the Commonwealth, because our understanding is that they can.”
Dr Webster conceded that the federal Coalition did not have the numbers in the House of Representatives or the Senate to force different amendments, but said they won’t stay silent on the issue.
“We will be loud about the buybacks needing a neutrality test,” she said.
“That being removed by Labor is an absolute desecration of our basin communities and is deeply concerning.
“We will fight that to the death because it’s a terrible outcome for all of our communities from the top of the basin to the bottom of it.”
Among the groups to meet with the National Party in Canberra this week included Summerfruit Australia, Citrus Australia, the National Farmers Federation.
