Water rally draws strong crowd
Even though this week’s rally in Deniliquin pulled a 700-strong crowd, for many, it was simply a case of déjà vu.
Another year, another town, another rally, and every farm and rural/regional community the length and breadth of the Murray-Darling Basin still fighting a rearguard action to save their water and their future.
Since implementation of the basin plan, our region has been fighting for survival and our protests have continued to fall on deaf ears.
Organised by the National Farmers Federation (NFF) and Edward River Council, the rally included guest speakers who spoke about the impacts of buybacks on their community.
The latest changes to the basin plan introduced by Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek to buy back up to 750GL, without the protection of the socio-economic test, will be the final nail in the coffin for our community.
SunRice employee Clint Free told the crowd he couldn’t think of any other government anywhere on the planet which is trying its best to ruin a world-class farming and irrigation system.
“Our community should be celebrated for the success and contribution that it makes as the Food Bowl of Australia,” Clint said.
Third generation farmer Sharni Hood spoke about her fear that her two boys will have the opportunity to farm in the future stripped away from them, just like our water.
Speak Up 4 Water chair Shelley Scoullar said job losses linked to water recovery were not confined to agriculture; but rippled out beyond the farm gate and across regional economies, affecting key service industries, small business, processing, health, education and our community.
Farmer Hayley Pattison said buybacks have decimated Wakool, and a 50 per cent loss in productive water resulted in enrollments at the primary school dropping from a peak of 40 to now under 10.
NFF water committee chair Macolm Holm said he was amazed by the turnout, considering the rally was put together in under a week.
“The rally wasn’t just for farmers – we had representatives from the food processing sector, business and community.
“The amendments in front of parliament are simply about buying green votes and the department has admitted the plan isn’t about environmental outcomes, but rather the delivery of an election promise.”
Southern Riverina Irrigators chief executive Sophie Baldwin said, “it is like our politicians think the fairies are going to ride their unicorns into the supermarket and put food on the shelves in the future.
“Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek will go down in history as the woman who devastated Australian agriculture just so she can appease her inner-city green voters. Make no mistake, the basin plan is not about environmental outcomes, it is political first, second and all the way to last,” Sophie said.
Central Murray Environmental Floodplain Group chair Geoff Kendell said the government already holds 4,800GL in environmental water accounts.
“Why do they need another 450GL? We are only standing here today because of South Australia and dirty politics,” Geoff said.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 23 November 2023.
