Harston dairy farmer Hamish Crawford is worried about the impact of buybacks on rural communities.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The National Party is ramping up its attacks on the Commonwealth Government over the handling of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, and challenging the “just add water” approach to environmental water recovery.
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Federal opposition water spokesperson Senator Perin Davey has visited key stakeholders in northern Victoria, including Campaspe Shire, Moira Shire and the City of Greater Shepparton.
Senator Davey, a NSW MP, who operates a farm with her husband near Deniliquin, wants to see the water already recovered for the basin, be better managed to target environmental improvements.
She was also warning of the impact of water buybacks on rural communities.
“Farmers who participate in buybacks get compensated, but the flow-on impacts of reduced production is very significant.
“If dairy production falls too much in areas like this, some of those dairy plants will close; and factory workers lose their jobs.
“Those families leave town, schools lose students and fewer teachers are needed. That’s the flow-on effects.”
Senator Perin and Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell visited Harston farmer Hamish Crawford who milks 600 cows on his dairy farm.
Mr Crawford said he was worried about the impact of Murray-Darling Basin buybacks on the rural community.
“Buybacks are good for the farmer who sells them, but not very good for the community.”
Senator Perin Davey and Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell discussing buybacks with Harston dairy farmer Hamish Crawford (centre) on his property.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Removing volumes of water would also drive up the price of water.
“The less water in the consumptive pool means there is less for us to buy on the temporary market, and that makes me nervous.”
He recalled the price of temporary water climbing to $500 to $600 in previous years.
Mr Birrell said he was concerned about the impact of the Commonwealth’s approach on environmental outcomes and farm productivity.
Standing under the centre pivot irrigator, he pointed to the water efficiency measures adopted by farmers like the Crawfords who were critical to the agricultural industry in the Goulburn Valley.
Senator Davey criticised the Commonwealth for its untargeted water buybacks.
“We will end open-ended buybacks.”
“We have a lot of water, now we need to focus on managing that water,” Senator Perin Davey said.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Asked if the National Party would support targeted buybacks, Senator Perin said: “Ideally no buybacks, but if there is a scenario like a group of farmers on a closed system and they want to get out and the project meets the socio-economic test, I would keep an open mind.”
Smaller water deliveries through the irrigation system impacted on the costs of running that system.
Senator Davey criticised Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek for being a “fly in, fly out” minister who had not toured the basin to speak to people on the ground.
The coalition has been criticised by Ms Plibersek for “10 years of inaction” and generating little water for the basin plan.
Senator Davey rejected this characterisation.
“We focused on outcome-based solutions, infrastructure, and on-farm irrigation program which generated water, but maintained productivity.
“Since coming to government, Ms Plibersek has solely focused on buybacks.”
She said there was 2100 Gl of water held by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.
“We have a lot of water, now we need to focus on managing that water.”
Asked about the recent report by Wentworth group of scientists claiming that the plan was failing on a number of indicators, Senator Davey said if the plan was failing, it was because of the water recovery approach instead of looking at wholistic outcomes.
“Just add water, is too simple,” she said.
“I believe we have enough water. The focus should be on how we manage that water.”
Farmer Hamish Crawford with his dairy herd at Harston.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
