Councils take it to capital

The Murray River Group of Councils isn’t waiting any longer to be heard and will now take its “PushbackBuybacks” campaign to Canberra and the Inquiry into the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023. Its high-profile stand against reopening the market so the Environmental Water Holder can start buying water direct from irrigation farmers has earned it an invite to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee public hearing tonight as part of the inquiry.

MRGC chair and Campaspe Shire Mayor Rob Amos is looking forward to presenting the group’s position and reasons behind the pushback . “The research and our collective experience tell us water buybacks damage local industries, economies and communities,” Cr Amos said.

“The legacy water buybacks left on our region last time include $500 million of lost productivity across the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District each year, massive job losses, business closure and the breakdown of the social fabric of communities.”

Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s proposed changes have also been condemned by agricultural industries the length of the Murray. Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hancock says the peak industry body and its growers are “deeply concerned” about the impacts of a buyback strategy .

“Minister Plibersek is quoted as saying she doesn’t need permission of states and territories to initiate buybacks, and that may be the case, but I think her statement lacks any awareness of the impacts further buybacks will have ...,” Mr Hancock added. Cr Amos says his group, and the region, appreciated Senator David Van’s recent visit to hear firsthand our concerns and that of local farmers and agricultural industry representatives.

For details, visit www.mrgc.com.au/pushbackbuybacks