A coalition of various farming and community organisations says it wants to continue working with governments to identify effective environmental solutions.
However, it says the Albanese Government, in particular, must ‘come to the table’ and be prepared to discuss these solutions, rather than continue to ignore them.
The Murray Regional Strategy Group, an alliance of numerous farming and community organisations in the NSW Murray region, says there is no need to destroy regional communities in pursuit of environmental ideologies.
In the wake of a new round of water buybacks, and their proven disastrous impact on the social and environmental fabric of Australian country towns, MRSG executive officer Shelley Scoullar has called on federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek to show both leadership and compassion in her decision-making.
She has also again encouraged her to visit the NSW Murray region and learn first-hand that there are sensible options which can deliver Murray-Darling Basin Plan objectives that balance the nation’s environmental, social and food production needs.
“The minister’s decision to target communities that have been identified as the most vulnerable with her water buybacks can be soul destroying,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“But we will not ‘fly the white flag’. Instead we will continue to fight for our communities and, most importantly, for common-sense to prevail.”
Mrs Scoullar pointed out the government’s own Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has identified that the area being targeted in the current unnecessary round of water buybacks is the most vulnerable on its ‘relative community vulnerability’ map.
It has also stated the cost of water recovery to our nation is a massive $600 million to $900 million in lost production every single year.
“We are devastated that another round of buybacks has started and that it specifically targets our region, which is most at risk.
But what keeps getting left out of the conversation is the impact on our communities.
While individual farmers may be able to profit from selling their water entitlements, it is the communities that rely on the productivity created by this water that are left to pay the price.
“And for Minister Plibersek to suggest a $300 million compensation package is adequate when the economic loss is more than double that amount in one single year is a bit insulting,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“We do not believe our communities have been treated fairly, but that will not stop us from continuing to advocate for what is right.
“In a country community we value honesty and transparency, which is not what we are getting from a government led by a Prime Minister who promised to govern ‘for all Australians’.
“A previous Labor Government promised social, economic and environmental balance, and this has been thrown out the door by the current government.”
A commitment there would be no further buybacks in areas where they would have negative social and economic consequences has also recently been ditched.
“Breaking promises and ignoring the wellbeing of rural people is not the Australian way. And what is most disappointing is that viable alternatives to buybacks have been presented to the Federal Government, but they continue to be ignored,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“Regardless, we will continue to highlight the flawed modelling, the damage to our communities from water buybacks and the more sensible way forward, in the hope that our city-based leaders will at some point recognise there is a better way, with benefits for the entire nation.”