SAM Birrell MP, the Federal Member for Nicholls, strongly criticised the Labor Government’s water policy during a recent event. He passionately held up a Goulburn Valley apple to emphasise the importance of protecting the food bowl of Australia. According to him, the policy would create obstacles in cultivating clean and nutritious local produce, putting the region’s agricultural sector at risk.
During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, August 2, Mr Birrell raised concerns about the Government’s alterations to Industrial Relations Laws and the PALM Scheme. He asserted that these changes were posing significant challenges for local farmers, jeopardising their ability to sustain their operations and remain financially viable.
“Apple growers are telling me it’s getting harder to produce this product because of the policies of the Labor Government,” Mr Birrell told Parliament while holding a local apple.
“IR laws are making it incredibly difficult, including the changes to the PALM Scheme to run an orchard and grow healthy, clean Australian fruit,” he said.
In a direct criticism, Mr. Birrell singled out Minister for Water, Tanya Plibersek, accusing her of neglecting the concerns of basin residents. He expressed deep concern over her proposal to withdraw an additional 450 gigalitres of water from Basin communities, a move he believes poses a serious threat to the future of Australian produce.
“The Government’s plan to rip a further 450 gigalitres out of the productive water pool that grows, clean Australian food threatens the viability of orchards and dairy farms in the food bowl of Australia,” he told Parliament.
It comes as households across Nicholls continue to struggle with the cost of living and Mr Birrell said Labor’s changes to these policies are increasing the cost of produce and risking local jobs and businesses.
