Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek introduced the bill on September 6, a move Ms O’Keeffe found concerning.
The bill proposes pushing out the deadlines for completing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and opens the way for the Federal Government to buy back water from irrigators.
“This legislation could potentially reverse the progress made in safeguarding our communities from socio-economic harm, a commitment that was collectively agreed upon by all basin states in 2018,“ she said.
“If passed, it may rely on water buybacks to recover an additional 450Gl from irrigators, eliminate the 1500Gl cap on Commonwealth water purchases, and offer only ‘transitional assistance’ for communities affected by water purchases, rather than pre-emptively shielding those communities from harm.”
Ms O’Keeffe said the suggested changes could profoundly and widely impact the region.
The Murray-Darling Basin is critical in sustaining the local community by providing essential water resources for agriculture, supporting local employment and ensuring the affordability of essential food products.
The region is one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables in Australia, and irrigation is essential to cultivate top-quality produce for both local and global consumers.
Ms O’Keeffe said the proposed modifications to the plan, particularly the increased emphasis on water buybacks, posed a significant threat to the foundations of the local economy and Australia’s food and fibre industries and that the repercussions extended beyond the farming community.
“Water buybacks could exacerbate the challenges faced by households during a period of heightened cost-of-living concerns and pose a threat to local agriculture, food processing industries, and the economies of basin communities,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“Our region’s resilience is on the line. Water buybacks should never compromise the vitality and prosperity of our communities.
“The potential impact on our region would be substantial if buybacks were to proceed.”
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