The Victorian Minister for Water must reject any proposal for water buybacks that will be put on the table at the upcoming Murray Darling Basin Authority Ministerial Council.
Victorian irrigators contribute 30% of the nations irrigated agriculture production, worth $4.9 billion, yet are still being forced to suffer due to unreasonable environmental demands in the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
The Liberals and Nationals continue to maintain the position that the proposed 450GL environmental buybacks are unfair on farmers in the basin and will have a negative socio-economic impact on Basin communities.
Minister Shing must come out and assure Victorians that the Government will not support additional buybacks in any circumstances.
Shadow Minister for Water, Tim McCurdy, said that regional irrigators deserve a guarantee from the Government.
“Irrigators and farmers in the Basin contribute a huge amount to our economy and food production in Australia,” Mr McCurdy said.
“It is only fair that they have the peace of mind that more of their water won’t be flushed down the river to the detriment of their communities.
“I am calling on the Minister to ensure that Victoria does not support additional buybacks of the 450GL at the upcoming MDBA Ministerial Council meeting.
“Let’s back our farmers and regional communities and deliver what’s best for Victoria.”