“On the one hand we have the Prime Minister highlighting the importance of food security, yet on the other it is being compromised by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek,” Murray Regional Strategy Group chair Geoff Moar said.
He said at almost the same time the government was launching its Feeding Australia policy, Ms Plibersek announced the Commonwealth was buying an additional 100 gigalitres of water, “thereby reducing the amount of food our farmers can grow”.
“You cannot seriously have an agriculture minister promoting the need for more food production at the same time as your water minister is undermining food production.
“More than four Sydney Harbours of productive water have been recovered from food production since the millennium drought, and as a result we have seen imports of staple foods skyrocket by nearly $15 billion to just under $40 billion a year in the last decade.
“This includes a $7 billion increase since Minister Plibersek’s aggressive approach to water buybacks.”
Mr Moar said MRSG had invited Ms Plibersek to the NSW Murray region to gain a better understanding of the link between water and food production, and provide achievable environmental solutions that do not include ongoing buybacks.
“It is disappointing that Ms Plibersek continues to ignore the invitations.”
Now, MRSG has invited Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton to the region before the upcoming election.
“We urge our political leaders to meet with us to discuss the myriad of opportunities which exist to deliver environmental outcomes without taking more water from food production.”
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