With submissions now closed for the National Water Agreement, Southern Riverina Irrigators are joining other farming groups and drawing attention to poor process, lack of consultation and a desire to rush the process through.
SRI chief executive officer Sophie Baldwin said the agreement was a replacement for the National Water Initiative.
“The NWI was an extremely important agreement underpinning water use in the nation — some people would argue it was the last piece of work that showed any true, genuine, stake holder consultation,” Ms Baldwin said.
“The original preamble of the NWI acknowledged water was used for a variety of purposes including irrigation, industrial use, mining and servicing rural and urban communities — acknowledging decisions must involve balancing economic, environmental and other interests in recognition of a continued national imperative to increase productivity and efficiency, while providing greater certainty for investment and the environment, by dealing with change responsibly and fairly.
“The NWI also gave all stakeholders a common language to talk about water reform — the complete opposite of the NWA,” Ms Baldwin said.
“In 2024 we find ourselves with an agreement so far removed from the original NWI it is astounding.
And there are some alarming omissions.
The original NWI stated ‘Governments are to bear the risks of any reduction or less reliable water allocation that is not previously provided for, arising from changes in government policy (for example new environmental objectives)’.
“The removal of this is a major red flag and erodes the concept of property rights enshrined in the original inter-governmental agreement,” she said.
“There is over 300 policies in this document and not once is there any mention of the importance and value of the generational knowledge our farming families have collected over the generations.
“The inter-governmental agreement has been high-jacked by ideological environmental outcomes and First Nations water issues, and while we agree on the importance of these, they are not the only issues that need addressing.
“The omission of irrigation and the role it plays in economic value for the country and environmental opportunity is glaringly obvious and cause for major concern.”
She said there was also no acknowledgement some valleys have a long term history of under use.
“Once again we have found ourselves in a position where we have not been consulted and yet we are directly impacted,” Ms Baldwin said.
Last week, SRI representatives visited NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson, urging the minister to refrain from supporting the NWA in its current form.
“The implications are far wider than the Riverina and if this agreement goes through, it will be disastrous not just for us, but for the whole country.
The Federal Government said the new agreement would more effectively handle climate change issues.
“A new intergovernmental agreement on water will build on the NWI’s good work to address emerging water management challenges,” the Federal Environment Department said.
“We are drawing on the expertise and experience available to us to prepare a robust and adaptable new agreement.”