SHEED AND DRUM CONDEMN TONY BURKE’S STATEMENT REGARDING THE MDBP
Dear Editor,
How ironic to read the criticism of the ALP position on the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) by two ardent supporters of the MDBP. The ALP plans to remove the buyback cap on water purchases is moronic and little more than an attempt to pick up votes in South Australia.
However for two people who have had the opportunity to reverse the damage caused by the MDBP and haven’t is an insult to those affected by the MDBP. To support the plan means no water to be returned and to support the removal of the 450GL; up-water as it is known.
Both have ignored the fact that there is an alternative plan that can deliver socio-economic returns as well as environmental outcomes. It really makes you start to wonder why they won’t or can’t fight for local people on water.
Water policy is the foundation of our region and to fail on water policy is to fail the people of the region, but to not even try is unforgivable.
Water can be returned to production and support the environment I will fight for this outcome without fear or favour of outside influences.
Yours sincerely,
Nigel Hicks
Independent candidate for Nicholls
MINOR PARTIES ASCENDANT AS MAJOR PARTIES DEAF ON WATER
Dear Editor,
The NSW election result highlights the level of contempt in the bush for the meaningless platitudes of the National Party who crow about the need for “environmental flows” in lock-step with the Liberal party who aim to appease metropolitan voters who are ignorant of the effect the removal of water from farming communities is having. The coalition’s deaf ears to the concerns of these communities could see them lose three lower house seats to the Shooters, Farmers and Fishers Party while other minor parties continue to gain ground. Thirty four percent of New South Welshmen voted for a party other than the two major parties.
The corporatisation of water, i.e. separating water rights from producers means water barons, superannuation funds and anyone aiming to capitalise on water trading for profit is decimating rural and regional communities reliant on sufficient water allocations at affordable prices. Apart from the reduced consumptive pool of water available for food and fibre production, (so-called “environmental flows” take 70 percent of all water held in storages since the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) was implemented), water is unaffordable, commanding up to $5,576 per megalitre in the South Australian Murray region and $4,891 in Victoria in January. Temporary water fetched $25 per megalitre before the MDBP. Until the MDBP and associated water acts are ripped up and replaced with something that gives farmers affordable and reliable water allocations, our agricultural sector will decline, rural suicides will increase and the exodus to the metropolitan cities will continue. Pseudo ‘green’ science and ideology is driving the Federal ALP who want to remove the current cap on water buy-backs by the government which will mean more water is removed from agricultural production. Will the major parties heed any lessons for the federal election? I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Yours sincerely,
Chris McCormack
Democratic Labour Senate Candidate for Victoria
