The Rural Times


g

The latest ‘Roadmap’ to come out of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) highlights just how little people of the basin matter to the Albanese Government.

The document, Roadmap to the 2026 Basin Plan Review, was released by the MDBA at the River Reflections Conference in Narrabri on the weekend shows how far the road has veered away from a triple bottom line according to Shadow Water Minister, Perin Davey.

“The Roadmap waxes lyrical about the need to use up to date information, consider First Nations and incorporate climate change but makes very little acknowledgement of how far we have come and how much our Basin Communities have done to date.

“It is quite a slap in the face for all the communities who have seen water leave their districts that they have barely been mentioned in the roadmap and there is nothing to explain how social and economic factors will form part of the review and considerations for the future,” Senator Davey said.

She explained a key concern is that there is no clear baseline benchmark for social and economic factors, despite a massive investment under the Liberals and Nationals in Government which produced a report and a now archived interactive page on the MDBA website.

“The MDBA as recently as Senate Estimates hearing held at the end of May, have been unable to articulate what benchmark they are using for social and economic indicators in the basin, which makes it incredibly difficult to judge the impact the basin plan has had on our communities,” Senator Davey said.

“Worse still, with the Government now saying they will now buy up to 750 gigalitres to finalise this Basin Plan which significantly risks the loss of jobs and the economic collapse of irrigation dependent communities will be inevitable.”

Senator Davey referenced a Victorian Government report released last year which found ‘if an additional 760 GL in total (372 GL for ‘Bridging the Gap’ plus 388 GL for Efficiency Projects) were to be recovered via buyback, in line with the CEWH’s existing portfolio, the average annual cost in foregone production would be over $850 million per year.’ The report found that thousands of hectares of permanent plantings would dry out and die if buybacks were undertaken to finalise the Basin Plan.

“With the dairy industry already suffering from the impact of water buybacks and estimates the cost of living would rise if access to water is further restricted due to the fact 40% of the nations’ farms are in the Basin it is high time due consideration was given to social and economic factors, not just in irrigation communities, but on all Australians.

“Now we see this Roadmap which talks about reviewing the sustainable water take levels and communities are fearful that it will recommend further water recovery ignoring their needs.

“It is a grave mistake and insult to people in the Basin that the MDBA that the Albanese Government has chosen not include the social and economic health of our Basin Communities as one of the four pillars outlined in the Roadmap.”

The independent review into Australia’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements

RELEASE OF COLVIN REVIEW IS JUST THE BEGINNING The long awaited release of the final report of the Colvin Review1 is just the beginning of a proces...

Why More Farmers Are Turning to Cone Bottom Tanks to Boost Productivity

In recent years, Australian farmers have been increasingly adopting innovative solutions to optimise fertiliser use and improve their overall produc...

Strong global interest for macadamia farms located in one of Australia’s largest producing regions

Two established macadamia orchards situated on 1,512ha in  the world-renowned Bundaberg growing region have hit the market and are attracting strong...

Is India the next frontier for Australian agriculture?

Fundamental demand shifts in the big populations of China and India – one third of the planet’s people – are challenging global food and fibre produ...

Labor’s disingenuous funding brings more pain for live sheep farmers

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is reiterating a future Coalition Government will reinstate the live sheep export trade, following Labor’s...

Rural Bank Australian Farmland Values

Mid-Year Update 2024: Farmland values stabilise as number of property transactions tightens Australian farmland values have continued to grow through...

Demand for high powered tractors revs up 2024 baling season

New Holland dealer Double R is seeing increased demand from farmers and contractors for high horsepower tractors to operate machinery and cover mo...

‘Super tax’ to jeopardise family farms

Following the passage of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures) Bill 2023 through the House of ...

The Benefits of Buying a House and Land Package

Navigating the property market can be a daunting task, especially for first-time buyers or those looking for a seamless transition into their new ho...