Ley Aims Shot Across The Bows In Murray Darling Basin Debacle

Farming families from our region, including representatives from the National Farmers Federation, NSW Farmers, CWA, RGA, Riverina Winegrape Growers, NSW Irrigators, Southern Riverina Irrigators were in Canberra yesterday, Thursday, September 14.

With the cost of living on the rise, our hard-working and knowledgeable primary producers have warned that removing water from food-production areas such as ours would guarantee prices would sky-rocket.

Federal Minister for Water, Tanya Plibersek continues to push her 450 gigalitre buybacks, though.

Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley opposed the buybacks, calling it a dog act from the Prime Minister and the Minister for Water, going as far as to call them out for not connecting with the Australians growing the food they take for granted.

Ms Ley called them both out for failing to take time to get out to the Basin and engage with the rural and regional communities that made up the fabric of our nation.

“We are all here, and we are up for this fight, because we know that if Australians lose access to the pure, honest homegrown commodities of citrus, table grapes, applies, pears, rice, irrigated wheat and cereals, so much sustainable cotton that is grown in the Murray Darliong Basin, it will put up the cost of living,” Ms Ley said.

“We’re standing by our rural communities as members of parliament, we walked a long-long journey with people of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. “We’re with them every step of the way.”

Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton said that if the water was removed from food production it would devastate regional communities, drive up living pressures across the state and force more farmers off their land.

It would appear it is once again time to gird up our loins and wade into battle for the water our region needs.

• Topics:

• Water
• Agriculture & Farming