HYPOCRISY AT ITS BEST
Dear Editor,
The Hon Tanya Plibersek is at it again. Her recent media statement, “Huge boost for Farmers in Tasmania’s South-east,” outlines that the Albanese Labor Government is investing more than $150M of taxpayers’ money to deliver the Great South East Irrigation Scheme and drive economic growth in Tasmania.Yet, on the mainland, the Federal Government is squandering billions of taxpayers’ funds to remove productive water from family farms in Australia’s Food Bowl through BuyBacks under the guise of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. This policy forces high flows along the Murray and Murrumbidgee systems, causing damage to the river environments it claims to protect.Given the increased cost of living and rapidly rising food prices, this approach doesn’t make sense. Australia is becoming a net importer of food, leaving us exposed to food security issues, especially with the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Russia, and Ukraine. This is without mentioning the freight costs of transporting food from overseas.It seems that Minister Plibersek is acting in the interests of buying votes rather than the best interests of the nation. The Federal Government’s ‘divide and conquer’ mentality only fosters resentment, anger, frustration, and ultimately discrimination against the food-producing regions in NSW and Victoria. Why does Tasmania receive substantial taxpayer support while those in Australia’s largest food bowl suffer the consequences of mismanagement and hypocrisy?
Sincerely,
Tanya Ginns
Murrami NSW
PADLOCKING OUR GREAT OUTDOORS
Labor’s shutdown of rock climbing at Mount Arapiles in the state’s west should be a wakeup call to all regional Victorians. It may be a world-renowned rock formation, but figuratively this is the tip of the iceberg.
Cultural heritage laws are the driving force for the change, and there needs to be a total review of the process. Without change, the padlocks will keep coming. There are rumblings that the Rainbow Desert Enduro in the state’s north-west could be next high-level pursuit under threat, with competitors locked out.
Will we have to get used to lockouts and a user-pays system for such events and pastimes? We can only hope commonsense will prevail. It comes ahead of the start of secretive Treaty negotiations between the Allan Labor Government and indigenous groups within a fortnight.
Victorians have every right to be alarmed by the recent developments and looming talks, which lack transparency. Without openness, Victorians will never know what rights or access to land and water will be traded away without their knowledge or agreement.
The Mount Arapiles call came suddenly and without consultation, leaving the Natimuk community and climbers around the world devastated. Premier Jacinta Allan continues to leave regional Victorians to pay the price for government’s mismanagement.
Peter Walsh MP
Leader of The Nationals
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