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 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.
Mrs Scoullar has also again encouraged Ms Plibersek 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’, but instead we will continue to fight for our communities and, most importantly, for common-sense to prevail.”
She pointed out the government’s own Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences has identified that the area being targeted in the current round of water buybacks is the most vulnerable on its ‘relative community vulnerability’ map.
It has also stated the cost of water recovery to the 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,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“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’.”
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