Water

Councils lobby independent senator on water bill

By Geoff Adams

Oct 23, 2023

Tongala dairy farmer Andrew Tyler (left) speaks with Senator David Van (centre) and Campaspe Shire Mayor Rob Amos.

The Murray River Group of Councils has targeted its last line of defence in its campaign against the Water Amendment Bill in Federal Parliament.

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The councils are opposed to some sections of the bill which will open the way for water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin. Opponents of the bill hope independent senators could join with the opposition and block the bill in the Senate.

Independent Senator David Van met with representatives of the MRGC as well as business owners and industry leaders on Friday, October 20.

The visit was at the invitation of MRGC chair Rob Amos as part of the MRGC’s #PushbackBuybacks campaign.

The bill passed through the House of Representatives last week.

Previous experience and independent research show that water buybacks have caused a raft of negative impacts on northern Victorian communities, including $500 million of lost productivity across the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District each year, significant job losses and business closure.

“The Murray River Group of Councils appreciates Senator Van taking the time to visit our region to talk with our community about what’s at stake,” Cr Amos said.

“It is only through talking and listening to the people water buybacks will directly impact that the gravity of their potential reintroduction can really be understood.

“We are not only against the Australian Government reintroducing water buybacks. We are also against the government’s proposal to remove the socio-economic impact test from the basin plan implementation.”

The MRGC supports the environmental outcomes the Federal Government aims to achieve through the basin plan but believes there are better alternatives to buybacks.

For more information and to sign a petition opposing the bill, visit: http://www.mrgc.com.au/pushbackbuybacks/