Sharman Stone MP

Murray Darling estimates shock local farmers

September 20, 2011

Murray Darling estimates shock local farmers

The leaked information about the Murray Darling Basin Authority wanting to take another 2800 Gigalitres a year from the Murray Darling Basin, demonstrates that the Authority has not heard or digested a word from the House of Representatives inquiry. Nor has it paid any attention to their own selective community consultation, directed as it is by the Gillard Government, who in turn is directed by the Greens, showing the Gillard Government has no idea about the need to grow food and fibre in the nation. We have already lost nearly half of the water in the southern basin to the environment.

Federal Member for Murray, Dr Sharman Stone said “leaks like these will do absolutely nothing but bring despair to irrigation communities. Communities that have gone through the worst drought on record as well as devastating floods yet still, the rolling tenders for non-strategic buyback continue.”

“The Minister for Water, Tony Burke, has not understood a thing since the last release of the guide to the plan. Quite clearly his chairman, Craig Knowles, has not understood the basics of how to produce a win-win or triple bottom line scenario,” Sharman stone said.

“In our review of the Murray Darling Basin Draft Guide to the plan, the Standing Committee on Regional Australia of the House of Representatives in Parliament found that there was sufficient water already purchased for the environment.

“What needed to happen was better works and measures that make sure environmental water was properly managed and used.” Sharman Stone

“We found there was potential for strategic water buyback, where the impact of the buyback was assessed as not detrimental to the rest of the irrigation system, and that continued open tenders or non-strategic buyback, destabilised the irrigation systems and stranded the assets.

“Minister Burke’s non-strategic buybacks are continuing with the rolling tenders, despite the pleas from state government’s and irrigation authorities,” Sharman Stone said.

Sharman Stone called on the Gillard Government to immediately demand the Murray Darling Basin Authority produce its full and final plan, so that the basin community and the states can respond appropriately and ensure there is a proper outcome, that both sustains the environment and the food and fibre growing communities.

Media Contact: Jonathan Clark 0417 148 110