The United Dairyfarmers of Victoria believes the impacts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on the northern Victorian dairy industry were completely ignored in the recent National Press Club address by Murray-Darling Basin Authority CEO Andrew McConville.
UDV president Mark Billing said the MDBA and Federal Government needed to recognise the impact of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on farming communities and the dairy industry.
“A recent report commissioned by the Victorian Government found the plan was responsible for reducing milk production in the state by 420 million litres,” Mr Billing said.
“Northern Victoria produces over 80 per cent of the milk in the basin. It’s high time politicians and bureaucrats acknowledge the importance of food production and make some effort to protect it.”
Mr Billing said dairy farmers disagreed with Mr McConville’s assertion that all state governments signed up to a 3200 gigalitre plan 10 years ago, which included the 450 Gl up-water target.
“The MDBA is clearly mistaken — the Victorian Government never signed up to the 450 Gl and never supported water buybacks,” he said.
“The MDBA seems hell-bent on trying to re-write history and wants to misrepresent the facts in order to squeeze blood out of a stone.
“The fact is that state governments at the time never supported a 3200 Gl plan.”
Mr Billing said the MDBA’s position on the 450 Gl ignored the socio-economic test requirements and the impact on communities.
“All reports suggest the recovery of the 450 Gl will destroy rural communities and decimate the northern Victorian dairy industry.
“Our elected politicians and federal bureaucrats need to understand that the basin plan has caused long-term economic losses and employment, and any further water recovery will simply hurt the economy.
“Canberra cannot continue to ignore the value of the Victorian dairy industry and the people who have legitimate grievances with the basin plan.”
Mr McConville mentioned several times in his address, that 2100 Gl had already been recovered for the environment; the equivalent in volume of more than four Sydney Harbours.
He also acknowledged that water recovery had come at a cost to irrigation-dependent communities.
“Make no mistake, they have done the heavy lifting, and on this 10-year anniversary of the plan, all Australians need to stop and think about that,” Mr McConville said.
“Some communities have lost out because of the plan. Others have thrived.”
The full text of Mr McConville’s address is on the MDBA website at: www.mdba.gov.au